Problem
How do I and you keep mosquitos at bay?
Answer
Put a copper coin in the water in vases or plant pots.
Stories
Global warming is bringing mosquitos to formerly cold countries in Europe. We can learn from experience of those countries where suppressing mosquitos has been and still is on ongoing problem.
Dengue Fever and Mosquito Inspection
Today I learned from the member of staff from the National Environment agency who was inspecting a building in Singapore that a case of dengue fever had been reported.
1 They don't know whether the person caught it from inside the block or elsewhere.
2 But whilst that person was in the building, any mosquito biting them could have taken the dengue and transferred it to somebody else.
Permission to Inspect
It so happened that both the owner (landlady) and tenant on your floor were both there on the same day. The inspector said that the inspection agent does not have permission to go into a flat to inspect it. The tenant must give verbal or written permission. So if you are a tenant and you are away on holiday or business when the inspector calls, they will return two or three times to try to find you in. They leave a written notice. If that fails, because you the tenant are away, they ask the management of the block for the contact details of the flat owners. They write to the owners. The owners then write to the tenants to get written authorisation.
(I have described inspector in a previous post.)
I took the opportunity to ask the inspector (a lady originally from Thailand) what I should do to prevent mosquitos breeding in water if I planted a coconut in water. (See my previous post about growing coconuts.)
Copper Coin and Water Glass
She said put one copper coin in the water. How do I know that this is really true?
She claimed you can test this for yourself. Take two glasses of fresh water and place a coin in one. After two or three days you will see the green or cloudy algae forming in the glass which contains only water. The glass of water with the coin will contain clear water.
Copper in Toilet Seats
I bought two sets of toilet seats and lids in Homebase years ago which claimed to be germ-repellent and the magical ingredient listed was copper. When I researched this I found that hospitals and kitchens in Finland used work surfaces impregnated with copper.
The special tiles seats with impregnated copper had been higher priced and apparently had not sold well because they were being offered at a similar price to other toilet seats, so I took the opportunity to buy the two available in the shop. I have looked for them regularly since but have never seen them again.
What about copper bracelets? I have not checked this. But I guess that if copper repels or reduces biting insects by impregnating your perspiration, this could have a health benefit for some people in some situations.
Copper Coin or Coins?
Only use one copper coin. One is enough. Too many will make your plant(s) die.
Which Coins Contain Copper
How do you and I know which coins contain copper? I researched this on line. It seems that American pennies minted before 1982 were made of copper. After that date they were merely copper coated. If you can't find copper coins, try copper pipe.
MRSA
Apparently a mixture of brass and copper is also germicidal and is used to kill MRSA.
Cleaning Coins
One of the websites I looked at mentioned that copper coins, like all coins, carry germs from people's hands, and you should place the copper coin in boiling water first to clean it. (So not a magical cure for all germs.)
Lemon and Lime
I asked what you can put on your skin to keep mosquitos at bay when you walk out of your front door, to go down to the pool through the potentially mosquito breeding areas, or off out to the shops or work or social occasions. My lady from the National Environment Agency also said that mosquitos don't like the smell of lemon. Lime is even better. She recommended Kaffir (lime) leaves. She mentioned that lemon or lime added to hot water with honey stops coughing.
Fountains
Chinese people are the majority in Singapore, which also has much smaller populations of Malays and Indians and English speaking ex-pats. The Chinese like to have fountains with flowing water outside their front doors because this symbolises the flow of money and suggests attracting wealth. The more superstitious think it goes beyond being a reminder, and actually works. The copper coin in the fountain will have the same affect as the coin in other water, keeping mosquitos from breeding.
Tips
We always keep lemon and lime juice in the fridge, the sort which comes in a plastic bottle. The lime is more expensive, so if lemon is just as good, we use that first.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
