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Bring out the Mosquito Net | Mozzie madness is almost upon us...
September 24, 2020
Time for the trusty Mosquito Net
Time for the trusty Mosquito Net...
It was the Baard who said: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's eve? Thou art more bitey and more irritating..." So, as spring moves on and summer approacheth at pace, this unfamiliar ode to the mischievous mosquito by Shakespeare's little-known Saffa bru becomes more relevant as our winged "friends" begin their annual itchy and scratchy show! Have a look at this article we wrote on
Mosquito bite prevention
Yes, folks... It's time for mozzie madness, yet again, which means one thing for the Kuku team: nets! So if you don't have a mozzie net, or if yours are looking a bit on the peaky side, now's the time to get in touch for a do-over or retro refit before everyone becomes more tetchy (and spotty) than a leopard with its parts in a honey badger's mouth...
Mosquito nets come in a four-poster bed format for hanging around beds of all sizes. Suspended from a timber frame, which in turn is suspended from your ceiling, they all have a flat "ceiling", are pleated and have three openings with a heavier fabric trim that helps to keep it weighted down onto the floor.
The fastening to the timber frame can be in sleeve format (so you can slide it over the frame) or by ties that are tied to the frame along its length. The frames themselves can be dark, natural or whitewashed, depending on your décor... We can also suspend them from your ceiling in a variety of ways, using yarn, rope, or wire. Of course, if you have a four-poster, we can customise according to its frame. Read
Mosquito net types for more info on the types of nets.
The netting we use has a 75-denier yarn count, weighs in an 38g per square metre and comes in either white or cream. This makes it way more dense than the thickest pair of panty hose the world has ever seen and 100% less flattering.
Of course, here in the luvverly Lowveld, mosquito nets help to prevent malaria and also keep out a range of other biting, irritating critters and nasties while you are sleeping. Please take note, though, that they are not a barrier to some of the other things that can prevent you from a good night's sleep such as your partner's/dog's incessant snoring, halitosis, flatulence and duvet stealing tendencies.
Hanging nets around your bed at night to stop pesky parasites is far from a new thing. In fact, mozzie nets have a long history, though the use of the name only dates from the mid-18th century (for some, unknown reason as the mosquito's been around since the dawn of time - just watch Jurassic Park if you don't believe us).
The use of nets has been dated to prehistoric times (although we don't know if that means there were Neanderthal-like interior designers throwing together a great look for upmarket caves that restricted the undesired feeding habits of oversized primordial blood-sucking flying insects...)
It's said that Cleopatra - she of excessive kohl use and a herpetological death wish - slept under a mosquito net in her palace at Alexandria. Indian literature from the medieval times apparently contains references to mozzie nets being used in ritual Hindu worship (please don't ask us how, as we're as much in the dark as you are on this one...)
The modern mosquito net is more often than not made from polyester, making it durable and easy to clean and is both practical and pretty, framing your bed and giving it and your bedroom a soft, romantic look. You can try different fabric trims, such as shweshwe or vibrant tribal prints, to complement your look. Take a look at this interesting
Mosquito Net article
Things that go buzz in the night...Mosquito Facts
Let's find out more about the insect that our Mosquito nets are keeping at bay...
- The name mosquito originated in the 16th Century and means “small fly” in Spanish.
- Mosquitoes can drink up to three times their weight in blood.
- It would take 1,2-million mosquito bites to drain all the blood from an average human body.
- They breed in areas of stagnant water, not running water. It is best to avoid lakes and areas of still water in places where there is a high risk of malaria.
- Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite carried by the mosquito and transmitted through its saliva when it bites. The severity of the malaria depends on the species of plasmodium the mosquito is carrying.
- There are four types of human malaria caused by four separate plasmodium species.
- Only certain species of mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus—and only females of those species—can transmit malaria.
- Mosquitoes can smell our breath. Using the receptors on their antennae they can track the carbon dioxide in our breath when we exhale.
- They have two major predators in their larval stage: fish and dragonflies.
- In Alaska large swarms of mosquitoes have been known to kill caribou. The caribou die through asphyxiation after inhaling them.
- Mosquito saliva makes us itch. Mosquitoes release a pain-killing saliva when they suck our blood. Most people react to this saliva and the reaction leads to itchy, swollen bites.
- Only female mosquitoes bite. Male mosquitoes are vegetarian, whereas the females often require a blood meal before they can lay eggs.
- The “elephant” mosquito is the largest mosquito in the world. The Toxorhynchites speciousus mosquito is almost 4cm long and the adults of this species only eat plant matter. The larvae however are predatory and prey on other mosquito larvae.
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Back in March of 2020, Bianca and Jana were dusting off their Fez’s and grabbing the pashminas out of storage in preparation to Rock the Casbah! However, as we all know and vividly remember - with March, came the eventual Covid shutdown, and instead of frolicking down the Moroccan streets, we all shut ourselves inside and watched the days tick by… 3 Years later, and now we can finally say - with conviction - that they’re going to Morocco at the start of September! This blog, filled with excitement and curiosity about all the weird and wonderful curios they might find, and endless sourcing they’ll do, stays as a reminder that sometimes plans change, things go awry and there’s not much you can do about it other than persevere - and that we did! So, here’s Bianca and Jana’s innermost thoughts about the trip, 3 years before it came to fruition, enjoy :) We've got our passports out and Jana has already picked out what she's going to wear each day… Come March [September] we'll be heading north with Air France to the Kingdom of Morocco, bright eyed and bushy tailed as we make our base in the ancient city of Marrakesh (also known as Marrakech to the French, but we're not French, so we'll go with the English version until all that fuss about Brexit is sorted out) - This turned into a year long negotiations trade, and now us outsiders would pay nearly double what we used to if we visit the UK - thankfully our flight is direct!! We'll be looking for inspiration and will be investigating what's there that we could possibly bring back to The Hoed. We can't wait to experience the atmosphere and afro-arabic influences of this amazing place as we visit the celebrated souks and off-the-beaten track artists and craftsmen that make Marrakesh so special. We're desperate to see the beautifully hand-crafted furniture, textiles, fabrics, rugs, carpets, objets d'art, accessories, lighting… anything that catches our eye and could possibly be brought back south. Berber mats and rugs are definitely on our list, as are the kind of furnishings you might find in a gorgeous Bedouin tent. If you think about it, the Bedouin refined the art of "glamping" into an artform - fabulous carpets on the ground, soft, billowing fabrics hung here and there, plump cushions spread on the ground, intricate leatherwork and carved wood, patinated metal… Total Glamping vibes! We just love all of it and will be tracking as much of it down as we can. We'll also have an eye or three out for wonderful ceramics and glassware and wonderful lamps that give off soft, filtered light. For us it's about workmanship, so we'll hopefully be finding the people who make furniture and ceramics using techniques that have been passed down over countless generations meaning that everything we look at will have its own, and its own special story. Our mission is to share those stories with you and, if it's feasible, bring some of that special workmanship home to the Rainbow Nation. We're most definitely inspired and are sure this is going to be a truly special trip! Counting the sleeps till then! Less than a month to go now - we will be keeping the updates going on our social channels as well as another few blog posts to explain in detail our wild adventures - Stay tuned!
A safari theme never really runs out of viewing time and is particularly popular for interiors at the moment. The warm, earthy tones give a sense of comfort and the accessories offer the anticipation of travel and adventure.
Stay protected from mosquitoes with top quality mosquito nets. Buy online in South Africa for the best deals. Shop now and sleep peacefully.
