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Mosquito Bites

The female mosquito is the one that bites our skin. Male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar.

The female mosquito requires blood to produce her eggs. Her mouthparts are constructed so that they pierce our skin, literally sucking the blood out. Her saliva lubricates the opening. It's the saliva plus the injury to our skin that creates the stinging and irritation we associate with mosquito bites.

Why Do Mosquitoes Bite You and Not Your Friend?

Recent evidence suggests that some people give off masking odors that prevent mosquitoes from finding them. Recently, scientists at Rothamsted Research in the UK discovered that some people produce chemicals that smell bad to mosquitoes, masking the chemicals that usually attract the mosquitos.

Mosquitoes are carriers for a host of diseases, including:

• Malaria
• Yellow fever
• West Nile virus
• Dengue fever

There are hundreds of species of mosquitoes belonging to the family Culicidae.

Since they breed in standing water, a way to eliminate them around the home is to remove objects where water collects, such as cans, buckets, old tires, and refreshing the water in bird baths at least once a week. Turn water barrels upside down during the winter, as well.

Insect repellents often contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) although there are more natural ingredients available, such as eucalyptus oil extract. You can try to limit your exposure to mosquitoes when outdoors by using a fan or by covering exposed skin with light colored clothing and a hat. Mosquitoes tend to be more of a problem from dusk to dawn.

References:
The Library of Congress
Research Centers
Science Reference Services
March 2007
www.loc.gov