At BugFreeCamping.com, we hate mosquitoes. Here’s some information on one of America’s least favorite bugs: the mosquito. Avoid them at all costs!
*Full disclosure: I’ve got Amazon links to products in this post. But making money through Amazon is not the sole purpose of this blog. I hope you find the info useful whether you click on the links or not. All links open in new windows.
An insect that’s persisted since prehistoric times, the mosquito proves to be both an annoyance as well as a potential hazard. There are nearly 3,000 species of mosquito in the world and 150 species occur in the United States. Some feed on humans and pets — which poses a risk of a multitude of diseases and conditions. Knowing about the mosquito and the dangers it poses to pets and humans arms you with the ability to take precautions against being bitten. Whether you enjoy spending time out in the great outdoors or you live in a mosquito hot-spot, a plethora of information is available to keep you ahead of the curve in mosquito repelling, bite treatment and nature- conscious living.
Habitat
Mosquitoes can be found in warm, humid areas of the United States in staggering amounts; however, every state in the US has a warm season in which mosquitoes are present and are a risk to campers, hikers, pets and families having picnics. States that possess ongoing mosquito infestations include Alabama, Oregon, Louisiana, Florida and essentially any state that has an immense variety of flora and natural water resources. Mosquitoes love standing pools of water, as these areas provide a calm and safe place in which the female can deposit her eggs. States like California, Nevada and others perform pest control in large areas containing eggs and larvae of mosquitoes on a regular basis to assure the safety of those who live nearby.
The eggs and larvae of the mosquito are resilient and can weather even the most stagnant water; in fact, they thrive on it! People, who live in warm climates whether dry or humid, should avoid standing water on their properties and nearby; such as ponds, lagoons, canals and uncovered cisterns. These areas are literal breeding grounds for egg-laden mosquitoes unless the proper pest control measures are taken. In many places, after a summer rainstorm, mosquitoes are drawn out by the moisture in the air and muddy puddles of rainwater. This is an ever-common occurrence in the Southwest United States during the summer monsoon season. Heavily wooded areas of the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest also experience mosquito problems throughout the warm seasons.
Identification
Mosquitoes have slender, long bodies and two sets of wings. The upper set of the mosquito’s wings are oblong and translucent in appearance; however the lower set of the mosquito’s wings are shorter and end in small knobs called halteres , which aide in the insect’s flight balance. Often times the mosquito is confused with similar-looking insects such as the crane-fly, but crane-flies do not feed on pets or humans, nor do they possess veined wings. The mosquito’s long, pointed sucker-like mouth, called the proboscis, also sets it apart from other similar flying insects.
The mosquito goes through three life stages: larvae, pupa and adult. Recognizing and identifying mosquitoes in their different stages of life allows you the ability to prevent from being bitten. It also helps you pinpoint a potential infestation so you can take the proper pest control measures to protect your family and pets. Once the mosquitoes hatch from their eggs they are in their larvae stage of life. Mosquito larvae are identified by resembling aquatic caterpillars. They are oblong, worm-like and yellow-green in appearance with rows of hair, or feather-like bristles, surrounding the edges of their bodies. The larvae, commonly referred to as wrigglers, live in standing water until they reach the pupa stage of life.
After approximately four days, the mosquito larvae metamorphose into pupae, which resemble small shrimp-like insects that float to the top of the water in which they are hatched. Sometimes they are described as looking like commas. These curved, crustacean looking insects cannot breathe underwater like the larvae of the mosquitoes can; instead, they must frequently position their curved backsides to the water’s surface to breathe in oxygen. Sometimes, mosquito pupae are confused with common water bugs such as water striders, but they do not have wings or legs at this point. After about a week into the pupa stage of life, the adult mosquito emerges from the curved back of the pupa-cocoon and is able to fly. From here the adult mosquito can fly several miles in its remaining two weeks of life.
Characteristics
Although the male species of the mosquito only feeds on fruit and plant nectars, the females must feed on blood to form eggs for reproduction. This poses as a danger to both humans and animals including birds and reptiles. A common misconception about mosquitoes is that only certain people are at risk for being bitten. This common idea is caused by the apparent favoring of some people that mosquitoes tend to take. The reasons for this include different perfumes, lotions and other body products which enhance your smell, making your blood seem more appealing to the mosquitoes. Your blood type has nothing to do with this attraction, contrary to old wives tales and other homespun advice. The fact of the matter is, anybody is in danger of being bitten by mosquitoes, especially during the late afternoon and evening time of warm seasons. This is the time of day when female mosquitoes are more active, in search of food to nurture their egg clutches.
The bite of the mosquito ranges from completely painless to very painful, depending on the individual person’s reaction; however, more-often-than-not, the mosquitoes’ bites leave raised-up, itchy welts on the surface of the victim’s skin. This is where the proboscis is injected to extract the blood. It is easy to become bitten several dozen times without realizing it, due to the tiny size of the mosquito’s proboscis appendage – it’s literally as thin as a single hair. Ordinarily the bites become apparent after several minutes to overnight, and the itching can become unbearable.
As the female mosquito feeds, the hind segment of its body becomes engorged and full of blood. Sometimes mosquitoes are known to swell as much as four times its original size during a single feeding. You shouldn’t swat or smash the mosquito while it is feeding, as this can cause the proboscis to become lodged into your skin. Although it will eventually come out on its own, this can cause an infection in the afflicted area.
Dangers
Several species of mosquito are known to be carriers to a variety of diseases to humans and animals. Some diseases are severe to life threatening in nature such as the West Nile virus – which is especially dangerous to the elderly, young children and those with compromised immune systems. According to the Center for Disease Control, West Nile Virus is spread via bites from mosquitoes; and as recent as the year 2010, cases have been reported from both the East and the West coasts of the US. West Nile Virus ordinarily attacks birds but is known to affect dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and people. It is a form of encephalitis which leads to full-blown meningitis in mammals.
Aside from West Nile Virus, mosquitoes can transmit Rift Valley Fever, which predominantly affects livestock that haven’t been adequately inoculated. Occasionally, Rift Valley Fever can be passed by mosquitoes to pets and humans; although the symptoms only last about a week. The symptoms include headache, fever, swollen glands and muscular aches and pains. When Rift Valley Fever affects pets such as cats, dogs or rabbits the symptoms may present themselves as those related to dehydration.
Outside of the US, mosquitoes are known to pass far more dangerous illnesses such as Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever and Malaria. Humid, tropical climates in Asia, South America and island regions are prone to these mosquito-borne illnesses. The CDC reports that there have been confirmed cases, although extremely rare, of these otherwise exotic illnesses in the Southeast United States.
Although the mosquito is able to transmit diseases such as Malaria, West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever, it is unable to transmit blood-borne diseases like Hiv and Aids. The reason for this is because the mosquito doesn’t transmit blood, but instead it releases saliva – through which HIV cannot survive.
Tips to Avoid Mosquitoes
Living in or enjoying the outdoors in an area visited by mosquitoes involves a little practical planning. For example; knowing that some fragrances, soaps and lotions may attract hungry mosquitoes makes it easier for you to plan your hygiene practices to suit your environment. An excellent soap to use is the Skin Armour: Deep Woods Outdoor Soap (opens in a new window). The best deal for this product on Amazon is the Skin Armour Six Pack (opens in a new window). The Skin Armour soap is specifically formulated to protect your skin against mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and other pesky insects. The soap is safe for people of all ages and contains natural botanical ingredients for an allover insect repelling wash. Ingredients such as lavendula, citronella, calendula and eucalyptus offer natural insect repelling capabilities, making them ideal botanicals used in Skin Armour and other natural mosquito repellent products.
Keeping one or two citronella candles lit nearby your campsite, picnic table or other outdoor lounging area also proves to keep the mosquitoes at ease. There are literally hundreds of different brands offering powerful citronella candles for outdoor use, but one of the most effective brands available is OFF Insect Repellent brand. It comes in single buckets, or you can get boxes of six that come in bucket candles for a significantly better value. I’ve actually used this product and it works. Make sure you put it up wind of where you’re sitting on low wind days. You don’t need it at all on windy days, since mosquitoes aren’t very good fliers. OFF brand also offers a plethora of sprays, lotions and soaps for mosquito repelling while outdoors. In addition to soaps, candles and sprays, using a bug net over your tent or eating area while outdoors prevents mosquitoes from getting to you.
Treating Bites
As uncomfortable and itchy as mosquito bites can be, you must absolutely never scratch them. Scratching mosquito bites does little to soothe the area; in fact it damages the surface of your skin and makes it prone to infection as you scratch open the welts. It is also best to avoid using calamine lotion as it forms an impregnable shield that traps bacteria underneath it. Natural ways to soothe and speed up the healing process include rubbing aloe vera gel on the afflicted areas, rubbing the area with a cold, wet rag and applying antibiotic creams to the bites. A useful product, and traditional, is Neosporin, which protects the bites while allowing them air to breathe for healing. A natural alternative to Neosporin is honey, which is a naturally occurring antibiotic. Burt’s Bees brand of goods offers healing salves and bag balms made with honey essences and beeswax to soothe skin rashes, mosquito bites and other conditions. I’ve used the bite relief, but if you’ve got the discipline to not scratch your bug bites, it doesn’t help much. That said, it was very helpful when I took my youngest sister hiking with me and I needed to put something on the bite so she would feel we were treating it. Placebo effect anyone? And here’s a box of six in case you’re interested in bulk. A physician can also prescribe salve and ointments to treat particularly severe rashes of mosquito bites. If unprepared, a standard First Aid kit ordinarily contains lanacane spray, which is a topical analgesic. A medicinal spray with properties similar to novacane, lanacane numbs the area affected by the mosquito bites, which keeps them from itching and irritating you.
Pets and Mosquitoes
Dogs and cats are particularly at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes; and aside from West Nile Virus, heartworms can be transmitted by the flying insects. To keep your pets safe and readily prepared for mosquito season, frequently change their water dishes and invest in a flea collar for each pet in your home. Flea collars offer slight protection against mosquitoes. It’s also necessary to have your pets inoculated and protected against different worm species; such as heartworms and roundworms. Natural dog and cat shampoos also offer mosquito repelling capabilities; such as BeFree Flea Shampoo. To save money though, a crafty pet-owner can also add one ounce of citronella extract to a sixteen ounce bottle of flea shampoo. This adds even more mosquito-repelling power to the formula and costs a lot less. Keep an eye on your pets during the warmer seasons if you’re including them in your outdoor recreational activities. Signs of being itchy and aggravated are telltale signs that your dog or cat has been bitten by a mosquito or another insect. To treat your pet, give it a cool-water bath with the flea shampoo of your choosing to relieve the symptoms. Observe your pet for up to a week to determine whether or not a visit to your vet is necessary.
I hope that helps! I’ll be revising this post periodically as I get new information and I try better products. Let me know what you think in the comments.