Health Weekender: Mosquito madness—and how to fight bites

In my feverish rush to a friend’s barbecue last weekend, I forgot to pack the insect repellent. After 3 hours of chomping down on burgers and avocado dip, I found that something else was chomping down on me—pesky mosquitoes. Twelve mosquito bites later, I decided I’d had enough and headed home. Typically, I’d expect 5 or 6 mosquito bites, but twelve seemed a bit much—even for a warm July day. Why so many, I wondered? So, I did a bit of research.

Some are predicting one of the worse mosquito season we’ve seen in years. Here in the Northeast, we’ve had the second wettest June ever, and since mosquitoes need water to reproduce, rising temperatures and increased rainfall equal a spike in mosquito populations and a nuisance for humans.

Growth of the mosquito population also leads to the spread of mosquito-borne illness such as West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria. According to the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne illnesses each year. A single mosquito bite can give you West Nile virus and since 1999, 29,000 people have contracted the virus and 1,100 have died. So far this year, the CDC has reported six human West Nile cases.

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Have you ever said "mosquitoes love me?" It’s more likely they love your odor. While many theories exist on why mosquitoes are more attracted to some and spare others, one way to start repelling mosquitoes is to wear light-colored, flowy clothing. According to Colorado Mosquito Control, mosquitoes are more attracted to darker colors because it captures heat and have a hard time biting you through looser-fitting clothing. And while odors from a human skin, fabric softeners, hair products, and perfumes can attract mosquitoes. Drinking beer and eating limburger cheese can attract mosquitoes—the latter may be why scientists think mosquitoes have an appetite for human feet.

Repel, repel, repel

Itchy. Red welts. West Nile virus. The ick factor of being fed upon. Mosquitoes can ruin your backyard barbecue, camping trip, or just about any outdoor summer activity, but there are ways to fight them. The CDC has the following tips to help you avoid mosquito bites:

• Use repellent with deet, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin when you go outdoors. In recent tests of insect repellents, our experts found that the top-rated product will protect you for up to 12 hours.
• Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes, so using repellent, wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks can cut your risk of bites.
• Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so get rid of or empty out potential breeding places around your home, like buckets, flower pots, or old tires.
• Keep mosquitoes out of your home by installing well-fitting screens on both windows and doors.
• Check with local health authorities to see if there is an organized mosquito control program in your area. If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish a program.

Did you know?

• When a mosquito bites you, it causes an itch because of an allergic reaction we have to its to the saliva.
• Mosquitoes fly about 1 to 1.5 miles per hour
• Mosquitoes don’t feed on blood for food, they feed on it so the protein can help their eggs develop—so males do not take blood meals at all. In fact, males’ mouthparts are not suitable for piercing skin. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on plant nectars for nourishment.
• Most adult female mosquitoes live two to three weeks, depending on the species. Some species hibernate over winter in garages, culverts, and attics and can live as long as 6 months.
• The majority of mosquitoes die as a meal to a predator, such as bats, or from the effects of wind, rain, or drought. Mosquitoes cannot live in temps below 50 degrees F.
• There are about 3,000 mosquito species worldwide, and about 150 of those occur in the United States.
• Texas has more mosquito species than another state, with a whooping 85—compared with the state with the fewest species, West Virginia with 26.

—Ginger Skinner

Read more on coping with summer pests, and take a look at our Ratings for insect repellents (subscribers only).

Image: naturegirl 78

Comments

[Lcajongirl]

One MAJOR factor for the worse mosquito season ever is all the stagnant swimming pools in foreclosed homes, a huge breeding ground for mosquitos.