Biting Bug Week; how to treat bites and stings

Since this week is Biting Bug Week I am now posting First Aid tips and tricks. As a mother of two boys and an older sister I have come face to face with some weird injuries over the years. Most of these injuries were accompanied by a "You what? Why on Earth why would you try that?" Then of course they always say, "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time." It always seems like a good idea at the time. Silly boys.

This is how I treat Bug bites. This works for mosquito bites, and fly bites.

First thing wash your hands!
The second thing I do I do is clean the wound. It doesn't matter if it's with soap and water or alcohol. Clean it. After it's clean pat the skin dry. Then feel the wound. Is the skin inflamed (the area will be red and often have swelling and may feel hot)? If it is inflamed apply some skin soothing cream like aloe or Benadryl. If there is massive swelling take a over the counter pain reliever and apply an ice pack. NEVER USE HEAT, OR ANY PRODUCT THAT CAUSES HEAT! (Heat will make it worse) Does the wound feel hot? If it does that is a sign of infection. Keep a VERY close eye on the wound. If the bite seems to grow larger (the inflammation spreads, muscle tissue around it becomes sensitive, any flu like symptoms) please see a doctor. These are all serious signs of infection.

NEVER SCRATCH the BITE. When you scratch you are opening the bite again, and you are introducing new bacteria to it.

If it itches apply an over the counter anti itch medication cream like Cortizone 10. If any allergic reactions happen (hives, sever itching, etc) take a Benadryl. Follow the directions on the packaging. You do not want to over do it on the Benadryl. I know from experience. If the the area is extremely inflamed or will not stop itching even after over the counter treatments have been applied use my BAKING SODA treatment that is listed blow under stings. (The baking soda treatment also works on stinging caterpillar wounds)




If it is a STING, like a wasp or bumble bee, check first to see if the stinger is in the wound. If it is remove gently with tweezers. (I always keep a pair of MEDICAL tweezers in my first aide box. They have a pointed tweezers end instead of flat one like the cosmetic tweezers). Make sure to place the stinger in a plastic bag or inside a paper towel so you cannot get stung again.

Clean the area with soap and water or alcohol. Pat dry. If you are allergic to wasps and bees please notify the person taking care of you. And make sure to tell them how allergic. Do you need an Effie pen? That is serious information that could save your life.



After the area is dry I apply a mixture of BAKING SODA and water. Baking Soda is a base and it draws out the acids from the sting, aka the venom. The mixture needs to be like a paste, I usually mix mine 4 parts of baking soda to 1 part water. (4 teaspoons of Baking Soda and 1 teaspoon of water) The water can be tap water, bottled water, distilled water. Any water will do as long as it is clean. (No puddle water please!) Apply the paste and let it dry! This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a half an hour depending on how thick you apply the paste. This step can be repeated if needed.

If you have an active child and they are stung give them a pain reliever for the pain (I recommend children's Advil) and swelling, a dose of Benadryl and after you have applied the paste cover it with a band-aide. (Remember when treating children if you are calm they will be also. Distraction is worth a million, so get them talking about anything, barbies, monster trucks, fireworks. Whatever distracts them.)

After the paste has dried wash off with Luke warm water. The site of the sting should look normal, no swelling or inflammation. Apply some ointment and cover with a band-aide.

If you don't have Baking Soda on hand dampen a aspirin or Tylenol and apply it to the wound and cover with a band aide. This method takes a bit longer but it works. Leave on for 20 minutes then check the wound. It should have no signs of inflammation or swelling. Then treat like a normal wound with ointment and a covering.

Tick bites can be tricky. First of all you have to remove the tick. Seed ticks can be very difficult to remove due to their small size. I do not try to remove them with tweezers. That usually ends up with me missing the tick and pinching the skin instead. OUCH! I soak a q-tip or a cotton ball or a paper towel in a repellent that has a high content of DEET or with hand sanitizer. Rub the tick with the q-tip and in a few minutes it should fall off. ( I learned this from an R.N. when one of my boys had seed ticks in a "sensitive" area.)The DEET application in this manner is okay to use on children because it is only a small amount and you can wash it off afterwards.

If the tick an adult use a pair of Medical tweezers to pull the tick off. DO NOT PULL the the tick from the BOTTOM. Place your tweezers as close to the your skin as you can near the mouthparts. This way ensures that ALL of the tick comes off. If you pull the bottom of it the tick could splatter(Yuck!) and you could be introducing yourself to a whole slew of bacterica. If the mouth parts do not come out treat it as you would a splinter. Those mouth parts HAVE to come out. If left in it could lead to an infection. Save the tick in a plastic zip lock bag. This is in case you need it for a trip to the ER. (I know it sounds silly especially here in the south where ticks are plentiful, but it is recommended by ER's and doctors.)I always write the date and where the wound was on the bag. Apply some Cortizone or Benadryl cream for itch and it can have ointment applied with a bandage.

Also once the tick is in the bag leave it there. They can live for years without any food in conditions that can widely range from sub-Arctic(freezer) to tropic conditions. If you are worried about the tick living in the bag and your wound is healed put the bag in the microwave for a minute then throw it away.

Remember the quicker a tick is removed the better. (Some ticks infect a person with diseases in as a little as 24 hours)

Always clean the area of the tick bite. I Pefer to clean the bite before and after with alcohol. And remember to clean your tweezers before and afterward with alcohol or with a trip through the dishwasher.

Remember tick bites need to be watched carefully. If inflammation spreads, the wound doesn't seem to heal, or if you get flu like symptoms take your tick in the baggie and seek medical attention A.S.A.P. Also keep an eye out for a bulls-eye pattern around the tick bite. If this happens go to a professional quickly.

I have found that if you are second guessing yourself you are usually right. So if you are thinking the wound needs medical attention from a professional do not hesitate. If the wound is a SNAKE bite seek medical attention and use R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression and evalation). You can also check out my VENOM WEEK posts for more info on species of snakes in TN.

I hope this week has been helpful. I know that I have learned a lot, and due to Saturday being the Fourth of July I will posy an extra Biting Bug Week post on Monday about Chiggers. They are Nasty little bugs. If you use my any of my methods and they work for you let me know. I love hearing about success stories. These are just tips and tricks and keep in mind that I am NOT a medical professional.

I wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July! Be safe! (For burns remember ALOE! Fireworks are fire!)

This week has been about flies and ticks. I am currently looking up info on chiggers. So far they are nasty little critters. I think I will do a special post on staurday for them. There's more to chiggers than we ever knew. I have been thinking about what do post about next week. It's the fourth of July so I was thinking I'd so something fun.

I would like to know if my readers have any questions for me. Ask me anything. Think hard on your questions because I will answering questions on MONDAY! You can submit questions in a comment or you can e-mail them to me at rubyself@aol.com.

The questions can be anything from who do I like best on TRUE BLOOD, to my favorite type of cheese. This is a sharing day. I can't wait to see your questions.

Horse Fly

Horse Fly

Horse flies are often called forest flies and are often mistaken for deer flies. These flies are considered pests but they are one of worlds largest true species of fly. There are 3,000 species of Horse Flies in the world and 300 of them are found in North America.

Horse flies range in size from 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches long and usually have clear or solidly colored wings and brightly colored eyes. Attack by a few of these persistent flies can make outdoor work and recreation miserable. The numbers of flies and the intensity of their attack vary from year to year.

Numerous painful bites from large populations of these flies can reduce milk production from dairy and beef cattle and interfere with grazing of cattle and horses because animals under attack will bunch together. Animals may even injure themselves as they run to escape these flies. Blood loss can be significant. In a USDA Bulletin 1218, Webb and Wells estimated that horse flies would consume 1 cc of blood for their meal, and they calculated that 20 to 30 flies feeding for 6 hours would take 20 teaspoons. This would amount to one quart of blood in 10 days.




These flies apparently are attracted to such things as movement, shiny surfaces, carbon dioxide, and warmth. Once on a host, they use their knife-like mouthparts ( like Black Flies) to slice the skin and feed on the blood pool that is created. Bites can be very painful and there may be an allergic reaction to the salivary secretions released by the insects as they feed. The irritation and swelling from bites usually disappears in a day or so. However, secondary infections may occur when bites are scratched. General first aid-type skin creams may help to relieve the pain from bites. In rare instances, there may be allergic reactions involving hives and wheezing. Male flies feed on nectar and are of no consequence as animal pests.

A hunting female fly often waits patiently in shrubs at the edge of a forest, marsh, field, or roadside until a potential food source passes by. In the summer these flies can be seen in swarms on livestock, often around the eyes of the animal.




After eating, she lays her eggs on plants sticking up out of wetlands. When the larvae hatch, they fall into the water. Larvae live as predacious worms in the water where they live through winter. Pupae develop along the water’s edge in early summer. The adult stage lasts through much of June and July. Only one generation develops each year.

Horse flies carry tularemia and other diseases that can harm humans and other animals. (Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S. states except Hawaii.)

Deer Fly

Deer Fly!

Deer flies are often mistaken for Horse fly’s, but these flies do not get as large as Horse Flies do. Deer flies are also known as Yellow Flies. They usually have distinctive patterned yellow or green eyes. Deer flies can reach up to a 1 inch in length.

The female Deer fly feeds on blood while the male feeds on nectar. (I can see a pattern here. Can you?) She needs the blood for it’s protein so she can lay eggs. A farmer in KY reported last year that his cattle lost 100 lbs (per animal) from the disease Tabanids, which is transmitted by horse and deer flies. It is not uncommon to see as many as 100 flies feeding on an animal at one time. Twenty to thirty flies feeding for six hours are capable of taking 100 cc of blood. Deer flies track their “prey” by sight and movement and also carbon dioxide output.

Eggs mass has been found as early as May 5th and as late October 13th. Most have a year-long life cycle but some larger species may take two or three years. Adult life span is 30 to 60 days.

Eggs are laid in masses ranging from 100 to 1000 eggs. Eggs are laid in layers on a vertical surface such as overhanging foliage, projecting rocks, sticks and aquatic vegetation. Aquatic vegetation is most preferred. A shiny or chalky secretion, which aids in water protection, often covers eggs. The vertical surfaces on which the eggs are deposited are always directly over water and wet ground favorable to the development of larvae. The female will not deposit egg masses on vegetation that is too dense. Eggs are initially a creamy white color but soon darken to gray and black. Eggs are cylindrical in shape and measure from 1 to 2.5 mm in length. Eggs hatch in five to seven days, depending upon ambient weather conditions, and the larvae fall to the moist soil and water below.

Their bite is the same as the Black Fly and Horse Fly. The Deer fly uses a knife like mouth parts to inflict a wound then the fly licks it up. For humans the bite is often painful and itchy. Wearing long-sleeves and pants and using repellant can help in avoiding bites. For livestock there are traps available, but repellants seldom work.

Stable Fly and Biting Midges

(To enlarge any photo click on it)


Stable Fly!

Stable Fly is also known by a whole slew of names; barn fly, biting house fly, dog fly, or power mower fly. This fly is a blood licking fly also! (Big surprise there huh?)

The Stable Fly can be found outside when it is sunny, but will come inside homes durning bad weather.
Both male and female stable flies feed on blood and are persistent feeders that cause significant irritation to host animals. Adults are 1/4 to 1/3 inch long and resemble house flies. A "checkerboard" appearance on the top of the abdomen.

The Stable Fly is on the left (note the checkerboard pattern). Common house fly is on the right.



Stable flies prefer feeding on lower parts of the hosts such as the legs and belly of horses and cattle. They also feed with mouth parts that are scissor like in form and function. They do not suck but lick or lap up the blood from the wound.

A close up of the Stable fly mouth and head



Eggs are deposited into a variety of decaying animal and plant wastes but are rarely found in fresh manure. Fly larvae develop in excrement mixed with straw, soil, silage or grain, but are also found in wet straw, hay, grass clippings, other post-harvest refuse, and poorly managed compost piles. Large round hay or straw bales, where contacted by moist soil, may also serve as a larval development site. Larval development requires 11 to 21 days, depending on environmental conditions. Mature larvae then crawl to drier areas to pupate. The pupal period varies from six to 26 days depending on temperature. The entire life cycle from egg to adult is generally completed in three to six weeks.

Stable Flies carry diseases that affect animals and they also can carry anthrax. To avoid getting bitten wear long sleeves and pants. Some traps are available for livestock, and cedar shavings can prevent them from nibbling on pets.


Biting Midge close up





Biting Midges

Biting Midges also called Sand flies. This fly has biting and sucking mouth parts. Ouch! These small flies are renowned for their nuisance biting associated with habitats such as coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangrove swamps and tidal flats in coastal regions. That means for here ponds, lakes and rivers.

The biting activity of adult biting midges is mainly limited to the periods of dawn and dusk; they will remain inactive through very windy weather, finding shelter amongst vegetation. Biting midges will usually disperse only short distances from their breeding sites. Only female midges feed on blood, but both the females and males will feed on vegetable fluids and nectar. Adults midges are 1.5-4.0 mm long with stout short legs, and at rest fold their wings, which are often mottled, over the abdomen. Their mouthparts are short and projected down. Female midges may attack humans in large numbers, biting on any areas of exposed skin, and often on the face, scalp and hands. Some species will blood feed on a wide range of animal hosts.

The egg batches contain between 30-100 eggs, and are laid on selected substrates such as mud, decaying leaf litter, damp soil or other vegetative materials, dependent on the species. The small eel-like larvae hatch in a few days; their larval habitat must contain a proportion of organic material with a high moisture content to provide optimum conditions for the larval stage to thrive and pupate. The whole life cycle takes 3-10 weeks, dependent on species and environmental conditions, particularly temperature.

Biting midges;one is full from feeding the other is not.



Biting midges are responsible for acute discomfort, irritation and severe local reactions. Itching may commence immediately after the bite, but often not for some hours later, and most individuals are unaware of being bitten at the time. Biting midges have their greatest impact on people arriving to an area or tourists. Local residents seem to build up some immunity to the biting. In some sensitive people, midges can produce persistent reactions that blister and weep serum from the site of each bite and these reactions may last for several days to weeks. Biting midges are not known to transmit any disease

Repellant is great at keeping these ting flies at bay. Also when outdoors where long-sleeves and pants.

Join me tomorrow for Chiggers! If you have a biting insect story please leave it in the comment section. Don’t forget to book mark me and please sign my guest book!

Biting Bug Week Continues

Black fly

Biting Flies!

There are several types of flies that bite. Black Flies, Horse Flies, Stable Flies, Deer Flies, and tiny Biting Midges, called no-see-ums. In the southern states they also have Sand Flies. Sand Flies can be found were there is sand. They lay their eggs in wet sand and on washed up seaweed. They can be pests of the highest order. Since we are nowhere near the beaches in Tennessee I’m concentrating on the others for this post.

First up are Black flies. There are over 1,800 different species of Black flies in the world, and 11 of them are extinct. Most Black flies gain their nourishment from blood, the males can eat nectar and help out by pollinating plants. They are small( ¼ of and inch long) grey or black with wings and they have antennas. In Africa, Southern America’s (as in Mexico and other countries), and Central America they spread diseases. Thankfully here in the states we don’t have that worry for us humans, for livestock that is a different matter. In Canada there has been several cases documented of cattle actually dying from Black Fly bites.

Black flies are a good sign to tell if the water system is polluted, they are sensitive to water pollution. They lay their eggs in running water and when they hatch the larvae attach themselves to rocks. As larvae they feed on algae and other small organisms. When they develop from pupa form (they develop in a cocoon underwater) to adults they will immerge from the water in a bubble of air. Trout often feed on them.

They prefer to feed during daytime hours when the wind speed is low. They can travel far from their source of water. In Africa one species can travel up to 40 miles in search of a host. Depending on the conditions and the species they can lay eggs anywhere from 1 time a year to repeatedly over the season. They are known to be restful during the night.

They do not suck blood like ticks or mosquitoes do. They are not equipped for that. They do have mouthparts that act like scissors and they will slash the skin open. Once blood has risen to the surface of the skin they lap it up. Their saliva contains chemicals to partially numb the nerves and an anticoagulant to keep the blood from clotting. These chemicals cause the skin around the bite to swell and itch. The female uses temperature-sensitive cells in the tip of her antennae to help find victims. She also uses sight, and seems to be attracted to the color blue, such as a blue jacket, shirt, or jeans.
Because flies follow each other in swarms, we are likely to get several bites at a time.

This Video is by Christopher Hinton and the music is by the folk singer Wade Hemsworth. It is based on his experiences with Black Flies. My favorite part is the scubba diving Black Flies:)

Ticks Part I

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Ticks! Everyone knows what a tick is right? They are small parasites that feed on blood as their main food source. We all have heard the horror stories of a friend of a friend that caught Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or worse from a tick bite. The thought of ticks crawling around makes me itch.

Most people think that ticks are insects. They look bug-like. They are small and due to their blood thirstiness one would think they are a cousin of the Mosquito; Maybe once or twice removed. Ticks are not insects! They are actually arachnids like scorpions, spiders and mites. All members of this group have four pairs of legs as adults and have no antennae. That makes sense if you think about it.

Growing up Tick: Ticks go through 4 life stages just like Mosquitoes do. They start out as an egg then go into the six-legged larva stage. These tiny larva are often called “seed ticks”. Once they reach “seed” stage they begin to feed on blood from a host. Seed Ticks are often found in a cracks and other small places where they hatched from. Seed ticks will feed in groups, one study involving dogs and their pens showed seed ticks can attack in numbers up to 3,000. If you have one seed tick on you it is highly likely you have more.

They molt (shedding of their skin, like a snake does) after feeding in seed tick phase they grow into an even larger nymph. As nymphs they continue to seek out hosts and feed until they can molt again. After this final molt they are adults! Both Female and Male ticks feed off of hosts. The female can lay eggs after feeding.

Ticks feed on everything. They are not too picky about who or what their host is as long as they can get the blood that they need. Ticks can be found on livestock (goats, chickens, cows, sheep), humans, dogs, cats, lizards, birds, deer and even snakes. The main reason why deer season is in the cooler months of the year is because it is in the hopes that the deer will not be infested with ticks and mites. Many ticks are dormant in the cooler months of the year. Even though that is the norm that does not mean exceptions can’t happen.

Ticks cannot fly or jump. They wait. They prefer tall grasses and shrubs. They will hang out on a blade of grass until a host passes by then they will hitch on. They have been known to fall off of their waiting place and fall onto their host (ever wondered how you got that tick on your head?). Ticks can also be found in abundance on animal trails and around water sources where they find their prey most often at.

Ticks track or stalk their prey. Teenie tiny stalkers, creepy huh? They track their hosts by carbon dioxide output. Some professional pest control companies actually use dry ice (The foggy effect it has when exposed to air is actually it melting and releasing carbon dioxide)to lure the ticks into a trap so they can be exterminated. This is a safe way to clear pet pens, barns and other animal related areas of ticks.

Ticks start coming out once the weather is a steady 45 degrees Fahrenheit. That means as early as March ticks can start coming out. Did you know that some ticks can live up to years, and many of them can do that without food. They go into a hibernation state until they are given the signal by Mother Nature that it is a good year to be active.

Ticks! Is such a long topic I've made two different posts so I can include all the info I can. Knowledge is power. Keep reading for Ticks! Part TWO!

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Ticks

A Tick on a pet Lizard


Ticks! Part TWO

Have you ever wondered how a tick can stay lodged on a host when while the host is trying to remove it? The mouthparts of a tick is a thing of wonder. The mouthpart or hypostome is needle like. It can puncture through skin. The mouthpart has backward facing barbs (like an anaconda’s teeth) called denticles. These barbs secrete a bonding substance like concrete to help the tick remain in place while it feeds. Once in place it releases it saliva. The tick’s saliva has proteins in it that keeps the blood from clotting and also agents in it to battle our defense systems. (This saliva is close to the mosquito’s)

Ticks are carriers of diseases. They are known to carry Lyme Disease, Human asbestosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia. Pets can die from anemia from ticks if they are left on.

*Lyme disease was first identified in 1975, and since then the disease has continued to increase, both in the number of people afflicted and in the geographic distribution. National surveillance for Lyme disease began in 1982, when 491 cases were reported. In 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 19,804 human cases verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 60,000 cases are reported each year in Europe.

Symptoms and signs of Lyme disease
Early Lyme Disease
The early stages of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms:
fatigue
chills and fever
headache
muscle and joint pain
swollen lymph nodes
a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans (EM) (Has a dark red center and red outter ring. Looks almost like a spread out bulls-eye)

Currently,Lyme disease is the most frequently reported arthropod-borne disease in the United States, however, far fewer cases of human babesiosis have been reported than those of Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, more than 13,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 1994 from 43 states, nearly a sixty percent increase over the number reported in 1993 and approximately a 26-fold increase from the 491 cases reported from 11 states in 1982. Contrarily, only a few hundred cases of human babesiosis have been reported nation wide in the last two decades.


If you are bitten the quicker you remove the tick the better. Lyme Disease can be transferred to a host in as little as 24 hours from a tick. When removing a tick always sterilize the area with alcohol and be sure to use CLEAN sharp tipped tweezers. Blunt tipped tweezers can leave the tick’s mouth parts still attached. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. DO NOT remove it by pulling on the bottom. This can result in the tick bursting and the tick’s fluid bursting. This can lead to infection. After the tick is removed place it in a plastic zip lock bag then sterilize the area again. Be sure to clean your tweezers also. Keep the tick in case the bite becomes inflamed and infected. Doctor’s can often identify the tick to help narrow down the cause for the infection. Most tick bites are treated with antibiotics. You can use anti-itch and anti-inflammatory creams and medicines. A Tylenol will often help with inflammation. If the mouth part breaks off when removing treat it as you would a splinter.

To keep tick populations down in your yard keep the grass trimmed and you can spray the shrubs and other tall grasses with a pesticide. Always wear white socks so that ticks can be easily spotted. If in known tick rich area used repellents. Some are clothing only spray so read the label and follow the directions. Wear a hat and long sleeves and make sure to check yourself over properly as soon as possible.

If you have a tick and would like to I.D it I recommend this website. They also have tons of information about ticks.

http://www.tickencounter.org/education/tick_identification/

I think I covered the basics of ticks. If you are bitten and are not sure about the bite area always seek medical help. If you go to the ER or doctor mention the tick bite, even if it was in a "sensitive" area. A aunt of mine refused to seek medical help because it was in a "sensitive" location. They are doctor's I'm sure they have have much, much worse.

Join me tomorrow for Biting Flies! Don't forget to sign my guest book and if you liked what you read or you love my blog tell me and become a follower!


A tick and it's eggs. These eggs can hatch in two days in pefect conditions.

Biting Bug Week!

The long and lazy summer days are filled with biting bugs that can seriously put a damper on your enjoyment of a perfect day spent outdoors. How do we stop these creatures from making a snack out of us? Where do they come from? Why do they bite us?

Well this week I will have all the answers to these questions plus some interesting facts about biting bugs all this week. Friday will be a special First Aide post on how to treat bug bites at home with simple easy remedies that anyone can do and purchase over the counter.

Sign up as a follower and join me for Biting Bug Week! (Also check out Venom Week postings if you missed them!)

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!

Trueblood VS Twilight and of course Dracula

Okay, I have read the first 3 Twilight books. It was the most I could bear to stand. It's very age specific. It is gaged more towards teens and adults that haven't quite reached maturity in my opinion. To me the books started out great. She had a wonderful idea and she pussed out. No follow through. The youngings could handle it because they hadn't read a real vampire book.

Vampire's are scary. They are designed to be. Think about it. They live on blood. Who has blood that they prefer? Humans. I'm a human. A vamp in the dark following me home so he/she can trap me to viciously pierce my neck with razor sharp teeth to slurp out my life blood is spooky. They have the capability to leave me, the weak human, an empty husk of a body in some deserted alley dying painfully alone.

Has pop culture softened Vampires up so they can be more acceptable? Yes. In Twilight they don't turn to ash or set on fire when exposed to the sun, they sparkle. Like a magical blood drinking fairy. All Edward is missing is wings. They hunt animals. That is doeable. I could see a vampire feeding on animals to keep his/her humanity in a small way.

In Twilight the poor Cullen's clan are doomed to go through high school till the end of time. I hated high school the first time around. I could not imagine going through it till the end of the world. I would be very pissed. If I am going to live forever there will be fun to be had. I will visit all the places I missed while mortal, I would do some impossible feats, and read like a mad woman. Think of the opportunities. She decides to send them to high school. for forever. That's lame in my way of thinking.

In Anne Rice's version of vampire's Lestat does some amazing things. He drinks from the queen of the Damned after he awakens her and survives to rock 'n roll another day. Louis had mortal issues. He's been a vamp for a while and he still has issues drinking from mortals and he still is convinced that he is a child of Satan. (Who's your daddy?) The saddest story of all is little Claudia. As a young girl I wanted to be her, except for the dying part. She was everything a child vamp could be. As an adult I cry for her. It makes me want to save her and keep her safe. An insane vampire is a fun vampire I say.

Now the next big vamp book is True Blood. HBO loved it so much they decided to make it a series. I have to admit I am a fan of it. It's not just because the series involves vampires and southern culture. Bill Compton is a gentleman from a different age, the Civil War age, he is not ashamed of what he is. To him what has been done is done. He acknowledges that vampires are dark and violent at times. (Just as they should be) Eric Northman is a vamp who is in a position of power. He does what he thinks is best for the situation. If he needs to send Sookie flowers he does, if he needs to fight he does. He does what he has to.

To me a real vampire will have spooky moments. It is their nature. If they want to hook up with a human the human will need to understand this. You cannot fight nature and win. I don't mean, "oh I got a paper cut!" then a feeding frenzy begins. That's B.S. What happens when she is on her peroid??

Vampire's are dark and mysterious, they are all that we are not. Why would I want to read about a vampire with issues of a high schooler?? I don't. Been there done that. I have already been through that hell once why would I want to repeat it in the point of view a sparkling vampire?

Then there is the daddy of all vampire books. Dracula. One word says it all. It is a brilliant piece of work. Bram Stoker hit on something big. I read Dracula in the eighth grade and it scared the crap out of me. I used to sleep with my bedroom window cracked to let in fresh air. One night I woke up to potty and I swear there was green fog drifting through my open window. I almost had a heart attack. I have never read another vampire book that gave me the willies. If you haven't read it read it. You will thank me. This book set the standard for all vampire novels, and so far most of them fail miserably. Dracula is one bad ass vampire and he does not sparkle. All he wants is love, and of course your blood.

Okay my readers I've voice my thoughts on the vamp books. What are yours? Let me know! And if you haven't signed my guest book please do.

Vampires, zombies, and ghosts oh my!

I know that as of today an end of an era happened with Micheal Jacksons death for rock and roll. As for writing our world is still reeling from the Harry Potter era and the more recent Twilight boom. As a writer I want my manuscript to be picked up and have a Harry Potter experiance. Who doesn't? The benfits are limitless, not to mention the royalites.

For a writer in today's market it is tough. Publishers are tighting their belts and being even more selective about the new-unpublished writers that they pick up. Agents are doing the same thing. They all want something that is new, a fresh outlook on topics and subject matter that has been wrote about ever since man first began scribbling animals with mud and poop on cave walls.

It's very appealing to say in your query that your book could be the next Di Vinci Code or Twilight. Don't do that. That is something that time can only tell. The best thing to do in a query is to let your work stand for itself. Your not selling your self, your education or your life style (unless the book is about you or your lifestyle). You are selling a story, a yarn, a mystery, something that has taken you years to hone and perfect. Let the light shine on your query. Hopefully the agents will be blinded by your brillance, then they will want to know about you as a person.

If you don't believe me check out Nathan Bramsford's blog. He's a real Literary Agent I swear it! He is also one the most honest and open in the agent buissness you'll find. I have a link to his page on the left side in my links. Check it out.

Chicken Boat

In the Sunday Edition of the Tennessean they published an article on Cockfighting, you know the chickens. I thought this was very interesting since the state had a major "bust" of a cockfight consisting of over 236 people. This happened in Hohenwald TN a few weeks ago.

To me it seems like everyone has an opinion about the chickens. In our nation's past our founding father's participated in the sport, and so did King Henry the VIII. I realize that in Tennessee the main reason why the sport is banned is because there is gambling involved. I seriously doubt if lawmakers are concerned over chickens dying in a bloody battle. After all they are just chickens.

If they did care about the well being of every single chicken in the state they would be more rigid in their regulations concerning the massive chicken farms that fatten up the poor chickens so they have insanely large breasts. I know that every person wants to eat a 5 lb chicken breast. The farms keep thousands of chickens cooped up in a single building with a constant flow of food. And here we were thinking that our jails and schools were over crowed. Be glad your not a chicken on a meat farm.

The Fighting Chickens are naturally inclined to fight in order to establish dominance and rank amongst themselves. Even if you have happy chickens they will fight. They are born with this inclination. It's just like rams butting heads but with spurs not horns.

I think this is a huge opportunity for the state of Tennessee. They could make the sport legal and rake in the revenue. It would need to be heavily regulated, no razors, or gaffs, and possibly not fighting till the death. People pay up to $100 to register their chickens at these illegal fights, at the fight gate fees range anywhere from $15-20 a head, and then there is concessions and souvenirs to be bought. That's not even including the side money people would spend on travel, hotels, and dining. Even the breeders would help by spending money on chicken feed and other chicken husbandry needs. It is a great chance for Tennessee to make money hand over fist.

Instead of seeing this rise in popularity of Chicken Fighting as a blessing and a great opportunity they are seeing it as inhumane. It is true that I do not approve of killing to the death, and the razors they attach to the chicken's spurs to make them more able to kill with ease, but these issues can be regulated. Gambling is another issue, but I think if we have a lottery we could allow people to bet on chickens. It's no worse than betting on dogs or horses.

Instead of making people travel across state lines they could allow some gambling at events and see the revenue pile up. Gambling is allowed only on water for some silly reason in other states. So build a chicken boat on the river. That would increase tourism. I don't think any other state has a Cockfight boat. It could spur a whole new industry.

Now I'm asking you, What is your opinion of cockfighting? Do you think it could be regulated? Would you ever attend a cockfight if it was legal?

The Easiest Research

In writing any genre research is key. If your scenes are unbelievable on a reality level it tends to make the reader not able to connect to your writing. The best advice I can give is for you to write about what you know.

If you are an avid cook at home maybe you could add a scene where your character plans to cook a lovely dinner for her romantic interest but it goes horribly wrong. Remember the "Blue Soup" in the Bridget Jones Diary? That was an excellent scene that everyone was able to connect to for several different reasons.

Everyone has screwed up on a recipe before. I know that when I was learning to cook growing up that I had ruined a lot of good food because I was attempting a recipe above my skill level. A second reason is because everyone at some point in their life has eaten something that was funky and tried to be polite about it. Here's a wonderful experenince I had a few weeks ago.

I thought it would be fun if I let my boys make their own lunches. How bad could they mess up a sandwich? My little one who is four made a rainbow sprinkle sandwich with mayo, whipped cream and American cheese on wheat. Yum! He ate his and declared it his new favorite sandwich. He was kind enough to make me one too. I did have to take a bite and act like it was the best thing that I had ever had the pleasure to eat. Now I have learned that "make your own sandwich" lunches is not a good idea and it will never be repeated. Ever.

If you are wanting to add a scene like a camping scene and you have never been camping before. The easiest research to do is to get a group of friends and go camping for a weekend. It will be fun, and you will get your much needed research. Or you could watch Man VS Wild. Bear is full of insightful info and tips on surviving in the extreme outdoors.

The best research is when you can do it yourself. If you can't ask around you may have a friend that has done it or maybe even be an expert on it. If your friends and family can't provide the needed info try watching a video on it. There are tons of how-to videos on-line. As always there are how-to books out there on every subject from gardening to rigging a sail. And of course when in doubt Google it.

For those that want to try the Blue Soup here's a link to the recipe. http://www.recipezaar.com/Bridget-Jones-Blue-Soup-96158

Ranting

This post has nothing to do with writing, or anything vital. I'm peeved. Let me begin. I was on face book playing Texas hold 'em poker at a cheap-o table. There is another "girl" on the table with me. At first it's the normal poker crap going on in the chat. Then his guy says that the "girl" is hot. This is strictly because in her profile pic she does appear to very blessed in breasts for a woman, but not overly so. I know boobs, I'm a woman. I see boobs every morning when I get up.

What annoyed me was that throughout the game this guy kept asking her questions trying to determine her cup size. I vomited a bit in my mouth. I could see that conversation being carried on in a private chat, but please refrain from using a public one. It's degrading and it cheapens the essence of the game.

He kept saying that she was "hot". I believe that most young males believe anyone with ovaries and breasts is "hot". I purposely have my profile photo to be a close up of my face in a very calm pose among some beautiful flowers. I live with having breasts and a figure that for some unknown reason draws weird people like flies to honey. What made it degrading for us females is that she was drawing him in, instigating the entire situation.

What she said undid nearly 75 years of women's lib. Where are the girls that want to vote, that are not ashamed of what god gave them and yet do not flaunt it like a tainted lady? Where are our manners?? What happened to men being gentlemen and respecting a woman? I am ashamed that I am of the same sex gender as her.

In the chat session she stated that she was/is 17 years of age. My question is where is her parents and why in the world are they letting their 17 year old child play on-line poker at 2 AM? I would be embarrassed as a parent, a human, and woman if word got around that I let my underage boys stay up till the wee hours of the morning playing poker with possible pedophiles. The guys that were hitting on her so avidly did not even back off after she had revealed her age. What is the world coming to?

Needless to say that I am all for friendly chatting in the poker table. Please remember fella's to leave a girl's assets out of the game. Were here to win your (fake) money not your e-mail address or to "score" your digits.

For those that didn't get the message of this post all you need to know is that not every woman can be measured by her cup size, waist size or any physical aspect. We are all wonderful creations of free will and are to be admired for the whole package, not just by what you can fit into your hands.

For the girls out there pose and tact are a girls best friends (other than diamonds). Act like a lady and you will be treated like one. There are times to act otherwise but those moments need to picked carefully or they will come back to haunt you. That goes especially for this age where everything ends up on the Internet. If you don't want your parents, family or friends to find out about it don't do it. Come on ladies, we all have great minds. Lets put them to use!

Father's Day and Severed Fingers

This week has flown by for me. I have to keep reminding myself that today is indeed Friday and not Thursday. In writing we tend to ignore pace. That's right the pace of the book can make or break a book. If every detail is described, every accent marked, every single item of the scene is narrated then the pages are going to creep by for the reader. Have you ever read a book and thought, "I don't really care what color the freaking shoe laces are." Unless it pushes the story forward or helps define a moment or your character skip it.

It is true that details help in filling the page, but a heap of detail is over kill. A lot of detail can drag a scene till it's crawling along at a snail's pace. If it is a fast paced action scene make sure to include only the most needed details. If the scene is a slower one be sure to include some extra details.

Lets say the scene is one where a lady is doing her son's laundry. His washing machine is broke and she is doing a 35 year old man's laundry out of the kindness of her heart. As she is taking jeans out of the washer a severed finger falls out of a pocket. In this scene we could add detail to slow the scene down. Maybe have some of her thoughts about her opinion of her sons buying expensive designer jeans. Build the scene so that the discovery of the finger is not only a shock to the mother, but also to the reader. Towards the end of the scene we could speed things along by noting her increased heart rate, maybe she gets ill, and of course her thoughts on what to do with the finger.

I try to place myself in the situation. What would I do if I found a severed finger in my washer? As your Friends and family for what their reactions would be. It helps to see what the common reaction would be. From their reactions you can gage what the pace would be. Would time stand still for a moment? Would they race out of the laundry room? I would most likely take a photo of it. That's a once in a lifetime chance. I seriously doubt there will ever be another severed finger in my washer again.

Remember that your word selection can help in the pace to. The right word makes all the difference. Read what you have wrote aloud. If it sounds funny and you don't intend it to sound funny try rephrasing it. Keep doing that till it sounds right. A sentence that flows right is a beautiful thing.

This weekend is a Holiday weekend. Sunday is Father's Day! Tell the man in your life you love him and make sure to buy him a book. Have a great weekend, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Marriage in writing

I realize that in most books there is at least one married couple. This married couple either falls in one of two categories. The first one is the marriage going bad. They have some kind of issue, and either the wife or husband has been a victim of some kind. The marriage is heading for divorce city because he ate the last pint of Ben and Jerry's and didn't buy more. He is automatically put in the "selfish-pig" category. The reader connects the husband as a scum bag now.

The second version of the married couple is the older generic couple. They have been together forever, married for 55 years they have seen it all. They are usually thought of as the older sweet couple that don't mind helping out when needed.

Both of the versions of married people are almost in every book out there. I have been married for almost 8 years now, and I have been with my husband for almost 12 years. I feel that me and my husband don't fit into either of those verisons of marriage. There are other verisons of marriage other than those two.

I don't understand why it's either utter bliss and married ages or married just a few years and ready, no eager, to divorce. I have often questioned if the writers feelings toward marriage may have had some influence upon choosing which couple type to place in their book.

I know that now a majority of marriages end in divorce, but most of us married people like being married. The perks of being married is innumerable. I realise that single people have perks too, but really you have those perks alone. Who are you going to share that awesome home entertainment center with? Your cat? (lame!)

Before you add that married couple to your manuscript think about what kind of people they are individually. Not all of us fit into either slot of a married couple. Why not give them some flare and personality. Make them people too, just not page fillers for a hole in your story line.

Is everyone having a wonderful Monday? If you answered "No" well then join the club. I hate Mondays, I'm part Garfield. Yesterday HBO aired the first episode of True Blood season 2. If you missed it, go to HBO.com and check out the synopsis of the episode. It's better than nothing.

Okay now to the "Meat" of today's post. Details is what makes a books stand out for me when I'm reading. If the writer doesn't take the time to research the city, town or group of people the story is about the book looses it's credibility. Without credibility the reader will have issues connecting to the book and finishing it. I have stopped reading many books because I could not push myself read it. Really who wants to punish themselves by reading?

When writing ensure that you have at least googled the town or nation your setting your book in. That's all I ask. If your seriously wanting to make an impression do some serious research. Serious is actually visiting the place that you have set your story at. Call it a "Business trip". Once you have visited you can add depth and color to your narration that was missing previously.

If your broke, like many of us are now days, go to the library and check out a book about your topic in question. Ask some friends who have visited the place to share some of the vacation photos with you, and then you will hear a first person's point of view on your topic.

Research is your friend. It can make or break your book. A few extra days spent researching will not affect your books likely hood of getting published, and it will actually help you in that aspect.

Trueblood!!

I know that I am stoked for the second series of Trueblood on HBO to begin again. This Sunday at 9 PM on HBO the second series will start up again. The Trueblood show is based on the books by Charelene Harris. So far in her series there are 9 books total published, most of them have stayed on the New York Best Seller list for weeks at a time. Her books are out in trade paper back and also in hardback editions.
If you have missed the first season don't fret.

The first season of the show sticks realitivly close to the book and it is also avaiable on DVD as of June 14 and the soundtrack was released in May. If you are a reader of the series and your craving for a point of view disscuission on Sookie, Eric and Bill try a podcast on itunes. There are several out there that cover everything from Eric's hotness to the Queen of Louisanna's strife.

I am planning on watching it while enjoying a bottle of Blackberry wine. If you can't wait till sunday check out the teaser HBO released. I know I'm more than ready.
Please sign my guest book, I love to hear from you!

What's in the fog?
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Publishing News

I know that I am sick of the Twilight books by Stephanie Meyers. Even though most adults are groaning aloud at the mention of more crap by Meyers being released her publisher Little, Brown is seeing dollar signs. To prove that they are seeking more money in the bank in addition to the New Moon movie to be released November 20th, they are also releasing a Breaking Dawn special edition DVD on August 4. The DVD will include a special Breaking Dawn Concert Series that will including a performance by Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld and conversation between author Stephenie Meyer and Furstenfeld. The publisher is only releasing 1 million copies of this DVD. Only a million. The Dvd will be selling for the price of $24.99.

Also on August 4th LB Publishing is releasing the trade paperback version of Eclipse the third book in the series.

October is also a big month for releasing more Meyers products into the world. On October 13th keep an eye out for a tin of journals. That's right, what every person needs journals in a tin. These will be sold for $24.99 also.

LB will also release New Moon Collector’s Edition, slip cased with a ribbon bookmark and cloth cover, for $30; and New Moon: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion for $18.99, both on October 6.

That should keep all the teens happy for about 30 seconds.

My question to you the reader, Do you see yourself purchasing these products come the fall? What about the price, are you willing to pay $24.99 for journals in a stay-fresh tin?

I'm back!

I am back from vacation! I have had an amazing revelation over this past weekend;I suck at gambling. I didn't loose all of my money, I came back with $11. I also came back with a sore throat and my voice is almost not there, it's thinking of packing up it's bags and going on vacation too.

Where did I go on vacation? I visited my sister-in-law Jennifer for her birthday. It was a blast. I finally got to meet her boyfriend Steve who is so laid back and sweet. We clicked right off, I think what done it was right when I crawled out of bed he offered me a doughnut. (I needed something to absorb all the vodka that I had guzzled the night before.)

Now we get down to business. As a writer I am keeping my toes and fingers crossed that I will get published. I know that there are heaps of writers out there just like me that prays for every query to be "the one". I spend so much time concentrating on getting published that I haven't worked out what I'll do when I get published.

Most writers think that once you are published that's it, all of your work is done. Nope. You have book tours to go on. A book tour is where you the author goes out into the masses to "push" your book. Radio interviews, interviews on the TV and in the newspaper. Reaching out to booksellers to let you have a met and greet at their store. Being the special guest at workshops.

It's a heap of work mostly spent with people you don't know. The easiest way to get your book out there is to begin in your local town. Yep, home sweet home. Contact your local library and ask if they have any openings on their calender for you to visit the library and have a book reading. (that's where you read segments of your book, speak about your book and hopefully sell a few books) Coffee shops and bookstores also offer this so call them and ask.

Post Flyer's about your book on every posting board in town, and if it's a children's book call the local schools. You'll be surprised to find out that kids LOVE it when they have visitors at school. It also supports literacy, so it's a win win there. Contact the local am radio station for air time. You would be surprised at how many people listen to them still (my father-in-law is one of them).

So in closing today we as author's need to skip the shy reclusive stage and get out there and make ourselves known. Get your name out there and heard by consumers, your readers and soon be fans. Don't forget to donate a few of your published books to local libraries and schools. Budgets are tight and if you want your book to reach it's audience this is a simple quick way to do it.

Venom Week! Western Pygmy Rattlesnake!

This is the last post for venom week. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did or have a snake story post it as a comment. I would love to hear them! Have a great weekend!





I know that we have the Timber Rattler, and as if one isn't enough Tennessee is also home to the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake. Like we need a smaller version. If you can remember a few years back a guy had bought a plant for his garden at a walmart in Nashville, and when it put it in his car to take it home he was bitten by a Pygmy Rattlesnake that had somehow gotten into the soil of the potted plant! Creepy!! They can be in the most populated areas due to their small size, but they are VENOMOUS and can pack as much venom as a large rattlesnake.

The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake, often called the "Ground Rattler", is a heavy-bodied snake. The body of the snake is tan, grey, or even reddish. A red or rust colored stripe often runs along the spine. The snake is marked by dark brown or black blotches along its spine that appear to cover the red stripe. There is also one or two rows of dark brown or black blotches on its sides. There is a dark cheek-stripe on both sides of the head that starts at the eye and runs diagonally down and backwards to the jaw above the mouthline. The bottom of the cheek-stripe is often edged in white. The top of the head is often marked by two stripes that continue on to the neck. The end of the tail has a small rattle on it that is seldom louder than a buzzing insect, and is often not heard or even seen.

The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is categorized as one of several primitive rattlesnakes in the genus Sistrurus. Unlike other rattlesnakes, these rattlesnakes have 9 enlarged scales on the top of their head.

The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake has elliptical pupils that look like cat's eyes and like all pit vipers, has a heat-sensing pit between the nostril and eye on each side of its head. The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake has a large, triangular head that is wider than the neck when viewed from above.




In the United States, the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is found in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas

This snake is tiny compared to other rattlesnakes, this is one of the smallest species of rattlesnakes in North America. The pygmy rattlesnake has a thin tail and a tiny rattle. Length averages from 15 to 20 inches (38-51 cm).

This species lives under rocks on cedar glades and is so secretive that few people encounter it. The sound of the vibrating rattle is a faint buzz like the sound of a grasshopper. Food includes small lizards, snakes, frogs and mice. Although the bite of this species is not fatal, a bite victim should seek immediate medical attention. The pygmy rattlesnake should be respected and left alone.

Venom Week! Western Cottonmouth!

This species of snake has a cute sounding name "cotton mouth", like this snake has a mouth full of fluffy white cotton balls. We all know how much that sucks though, think of dentist appointments. Yuck. The reasoning for this snake's name is that in the inside of it's mouth is white, like cotton. This snake has fangs, and it is VERY VENOMOUS!!

I have read all the Lonesome Dove books, and to be honest I almost didn't make it through the movie when the poor Irish boy gets bitten a hundred times by Cottonmouths when crossing the river. It still gives me creeps. So that leads me to their other common name Water Moccasin. Many people in the field of snakes do not like that name, they say it is inappropriate. But I guarantee that if I'm in a creek and I scream "Water Moccasin!" Everybody will know what I'm saying.

These snakes are dark in color heavy bodied and can swim and climb trees. They mostly live on frogs and fish, but will also eat mice, birds, lizards, and anything else they can fit into their mouth.

When swimming, the cottonmouth holds its head above water with most of its body barely touching the surface. Cottonmouths are nocturnal, most active at night. The young wiggle their tails so that the tip appears to be a small worm. When small frogs and lizards see the wriggling tail, they think it's something to eat and rush forward to eat it, only to be eaten by the baby cottonmouth. Cottonmouths eat other snakes, including their own kind. The only time more than one cottonmouth would be in the same place at the same time is: 1) mating season, 2) female giving birth, or 3) one cottonmouth is eating another.

Also called "water moccasin," cottonmouths CAN bite underwater, but their prey is fish. If they could not bite underwater, they would starve. Cottonmouths avoid contact with humans or any other possible predator. (All those stories about swarming cottonmouths attacking people are myths!) But like any animal, when threatened, cottonmouths will attack to protect themselves. In some places, especially around woodland ponds, you can find western cottonmouths every few yards. Sometimes, you can smell their musky odor in the air. Heat sensors on either side of the snake's face detect heat and help the cottonmouth to find food.

Western cottonmouths prefer lowland swamps, lakes, rivers, sloughs, irrigation ditches, rice fields and salt marshes, but are not confined to living in moist habitats.

Throughout the United States, less than 1% of all deaths by snakebite have been caused by cottonmouths. While the odds make it seem unlikely to die from a cottonmouth bite, nonetheless, their venom can still cause severe bleeding and considerable damage to tissue. DO NOT TOUCH and if bitten, seek immediate medical attention!

I think these snakes are fighting for a female. What do you think?



This video has music! It shows the Cotton Mouth displaying a common defense behavior. When startled they will coil up and display the inside of it's mouth.

Venom Week! Timber Rattlesnake!

The Timber Rattlesnake is also known as the banded or velvet-tailed rattler. This Species of snake can be found in EVERY county in Tennessee, but their population is not overly abundant, especially in populated areas.

There are two major color patterns for Timber Rattlers they are(1) yellow phase: black or dark brown cross- bands on a ground color of yellow, brown, or gray; the crossbands, which may be V-shaped, break up anteriorly to form a row of darker spots down the back, plus a row along each side of the body and (2) black phase: a heavy stripping of black or very dark brown which hides much of lighter pigment. Completely black specimens are not rare in uplands of the Northeast.

This species has a length of 11 to 96 inches with the average 72 inches.Males grow to larger sizes than females.

Behavior: In the fall, they congregate in considerable numbers near favored den sites *2079,1008* and often hibernate with copperheads and other snakes *882*. The sites are used year after year *1008* and the dens usually have a southern exposure *1100,2079,2075,883,882*. They do not defend a territory *1100*. This species is diurnal in the spring and fall, and nocturnal in hot summers *2079,1014,1023,946*. The preferred habitat is secondary growth timbered terrain where rodents abound *882*. They are also found in rock outcroppings *1100, 2079,2075,883,1013,1008*. In the Central Plains this species may occur in wooded or brushy areas *1013*. Klauber reports that in August there is a trek from dry ridges to valleys for water *1100*. In early November, they congregate in considerable numbers near den sites prior to going into hibernation *1023*. The sites are used year after year and are usually wooded bluffs or hillsides with rock outcroppings containing numerous deep crevices extending well below the frost line *858*. Unlike the communal den characteristic of the timber rattlesnake, canebrakes (subspecies atricaudatus) overwinter singly or in small numbers in the base of hollow trees or in stumps. This species is usually terrestrial but will ascend low shrubs to obtain prey. They are primarily tertiary level predators of small mammals but will consume other vertebrates. They are known to eat rats, mice, cottontail rabbits, six-lined racerunners, skinks and birds. They are not territorial

Individuals are occasionally killed by deer, sheep, dogs, hogs, and red-tailed hawks. Juveniles are known to be eaten by chickens and turkeys

Limiting factors: This species is found in dark soil regions of swamps, canefields, low pine woods, cane breaks, cedar breaks, bay heads, moist woodlands and flood plains, and open areas with little understory. Stumps and logs are preferred. They also inhabit creek bottoms, rocky ridges, overgrown Fields, under the floors of deserted cabins, thickly wooded areas bordering lakes and streams and brushy hollows full of fallen logs and rank weeds. It likes higher ridges that adjoin river. This species is more antagonistic than some forms and will coil and strike when escape would be more pausible.