Mosquitos!

Mosquito









Drangonfly

Summer is now in full swing and so are the bugs. I know that I have had at least a handful of bug bites myself so far and I sincerely hope that you have been fortunate enough to escape this. The most irritating bug bite for myself is a Mosquito bite. The bite itches for days and heaven help you if you happen to scratch it. Today's topic is Mosquito's if you couldn't tell.

There are over 3,500 species of Mosquito's. The adult female is the one that makes us whip out the bug spray. In order to have enough protein and iron to produce eggs she feeds on a host. A host can be a human, or an animal. So if your swatting bugs most likely your outdoor family pet is too. The male lives on nectar and other sweet foods. The female can live on this, but she requires blood to produce eggs.

Mosquito's have evolved to where they can survive in colder climates, they have been found in Alaska and Canada in hibernation for winter. Not only do they cover the tropic regions now even in the unlikeliest of places you can acquire a bite. These cold climate Mosquito's eggs are more harder than tropic species and their eggs can survive un-hatched through snow and ice.

Not only are they annoying but they can carry deadly infectious diseases. Not only the West Nile Virus, but malaria, HIV, infectious bacteria, parasites and Yellow Fever. Usually these illnesses are carried by "elderly" females, meaning an adult female that has been to many different hosts. Many scientists are working on a repellent that is just for the older adult female Mosquito's.

Eggs. They almost invisible to the human eye. The hatched larvae is different. The female lays eggs in still water, if there is currant the eggs could be damaged and will not hatch. In a still pool of water that has been left undisturbed outdoors you can usually see the black squiggles that are the larvae. These squiggles will go through for a total of 4 changes, or growth spurts before they are adults.

The female can live 1-2 weeks in the wild and about a month in captivity. They will feed, digest blood, lay eggs over and over again until they die. The males will breed and pollinate flowers for nearly 3 weeks in the wild. (this is of course based on the fact that they can avoid being squished by their host).

These little blood suckers have evolved in more ways than one. Their Silvia contains proteins that causes your blood not to clot. The bug cannot drink clotted blood, but needs it to remain fluid.(compare it to drinking chunky milk) They also can damage a person's immunity, vascular constriction, and of course inflammation. The inflammation is your skin's response to being harmfully stimulated.

When bitten do not scratch it this causes more inflammation and it also introduces more bacteria to the wound and also can widen the wound, and cause scarring. The best thing is to prevent a bite.

Mosquito's have several natural predators. Bats, birds, Dragonflies, Cane Flies, Damselflies, and even some types of fresh and salt water plankton feed on mosquito eggs and larvae. The flies that prey on mosquito's are often called "Mosquito Hawks". Fish also help keep their population down. The known types of fish that eat adults, larvae and eggs are catfish, goldfish, guppies, bluegill, Flathead minnows, bass, and the Western Mosquito fish.

Damselfly




To keep the mosquito population down around your home empty all buckets, birdbaths, and other rain water collectors at least every week. This goes for kiddie pools, and if you have a small fish pond make sure you have some kind of water circulation. Don't forget to make a hole in tire swings for the water to drain out, and empty the basin's of flower pots after a good watering. If you have low lying areas that collect water in puddles fill the area with gravel, dirt, or mulch. Ensure that your gutters are clog and debris free, and do this also for ditches.

Cane Fly



Natural bug repellents are marigolds, lavender(you can dab on the essential oil or plant a pot near your deck or patio), moth balls that contain Camphor, Cedar oil (cedar bedding for dogs will help keep them out of their pens and beds, this also works for ticks and fleas), Lemon Grass, Eucalyptus, Garlic, Peppermint, Rosemary and Thyme. The herbs can be consumed or planted for this benefit, but consume as you normally would, do not overdose.

You can also buy over the counter repellents that contain DEET. It is not recommended that products containing DEET be used on children with skin sensitivities or those are under the age of 6. Always follow the product directions. Mosquito-repellent candles containing citronella oil are sold widely, these have been used with mixed reports of success and failure from consumers.

Be wary of gadgets that use Ultrasonic mosquito repelling technology. Most of these products have been found to be a scam by Consumer Reports. Usually the most basic of products work well when properly used as directed.

On Friday I will cover how to treat bug bites with first aide. Tomorrow is Tick day! If you have a repellent that is not listed that works post it in the comments section, and of course any ideas on how to prevent mosquito's(other than living sealed indoors till winter) please post them. Don't forget to sign my guest book!