Overall, the number of allergic reactions in the population has risen sharply, and this also applies to insect bites. According to experts, mosquito bites are increasingly requiring medical treatment. One known cause of this is the transmission of pathogens during the bite, which then often trigger severe swelling and inflammation. If the bite is scratched open, other pathogens can easily enter the body. It is still being discussed whether the increasingly severe reactions to mosquito bites can also be caused by environmental toxins that the mosquitoes ingest beforehand.

• The following plants can be planted around the seating area in the garden or on the balcony as natural mosquito repellents: Lavender, sage, lemongrass, tomatoes, catnip, lemon balm, scented geranium and bergamot. Essential oils from these plants or citronella oil also have a repellent effect.
• Suitable clothing is a particularly good sting prophylaxis. This includes light-colored clothing made of tightly woven fabric that is not too tight on the body and covers as much skin as possible.
• Exposed skin can be protected with natural mosquito repellent, such as neem oil.
• Strong-smelling perfumes and cosmetics as well as the smell of sweat can attract mosquitoes.
• Fly screens and mosquito nets protect indoor areas.

• Avoid scratching, as this encourages bacterial infections.
• Cool stings immediately, for example with cooling compresses made of gel or water.
• Ointments containing antihistamines reduce itching.
• If the area of skin around the bite becomes thick and hot, is very red or painful, a doctor should be consulted. This also applies if high fever and accompanying symptoms occur after mosquito bites during or after a vacation in risk areas.

The be-all and end-all of any control is not to offer the pests any breeding grounds. Any small accumulation of water that persists for more than ten days is suitable for the insects to lay their eggs and hatch. Recommended measures are:

• Tightly covering rain barrels so that female mosquitoes cannot lay their eggs on the surface of the water;
• If possible, empty rain barrels completely so that the mosquito larvae dry out;
  Remove all unnecessary water traps, such as buckets, plastic containers or tarpaulins, cans, old car tires or blockages in rain gutters;
• Renew the water in bird baths regularly;
• Garden ponds can be stocked with fish, as they destroy the mosquito larvae.

In rain barrels that cannot be completely sealed, a purely biological mosquito repellent containing the active ingredient Bti can be used. This specifically kills mosquito larvae without having any harmful effects on humans, wild animals, beneficial insects, fish or other organisms. The water can be safely used for watering the garden.

It is important to combat mosquitoes so that neither exotic nor native mosquitoes can spread over large areas. The state capital of Wiesbaden is a member of the Kommunale Aktionsgemeinschaft zur Bekämpfung der Schnakenplage e.V., or KABS for short. The KABS carries out well-organized control measures in the flooding areas of the Rhine and in the city area - especially in Biebrich, Schierstein and Kostheim. This largely succeeds in preventing a plague of mosquitoes in open areas.