Battling the Bugs

By Lea Tyrrell

We tend to think of mosquitoes as summer pests, and since we see Labor Day as the "end" of summer, you might think the worst is over.  Well, we've actually got another month of summer to go and this is the most active time of the year for mosquitoes.

Those little buggers have been around for more than 30-million years.  They like to munch on mammals and birds, and they have lots of ways of finding us.  Mosquitoes can sense the carbon dioxide we breathe out and the lactic acid in our bodies.   They can see us move, especially if you're wearing clothing that contrasts with your background.   Plus, they can sense heat so our warm bodies lead them right to us.

According to the American Mosquito Control Association, (yes, there is one) mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism.  More than a million people die from mosquito-bourne diseases each year.   Those diseases include Malaria, Yellow Fever, and of most concern to us here on Long Island, West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

The AMCA says the best way to protect yourself against mosquito bites is to remember the three D's - DRAIN, DRESS, DEFEND.

Drain any standing water around your house.  Most mosquitoes don't travel that far from where they breed.   Pour out the water in birdbaths, children's toys in your yard, roof gutters, garbage pails, recycling pails, your pet's water dish - ANYTHING that collects water near your house. 

Dress in light colored clothing that fits loosely.  The AMCA says a lot of the species are attracted to dark clothing, and if your clothes are too tight, mosquitoes can bite right through the material.

Defend yourself by using some kind of mosquito repellent.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using repellents that have ingredients that have been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency - DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of lemon eucalyptus.

If Nassau or Suffolk county decides the situation in our area warrants ground spraying of pesticides, they'll notify residents of when and where they're spraying.  News 12 Long Island will report that information to you as well.  The pesticides most often used for this purpose are Scourge and Anvil.   The debate continues to rage over whether this type of spraying is necessary and whether the pesticides cause harm to the environment.

So while they're still mostly an itchy nuisance, mosquitoes have become a little more threatening to us here in this area over the last several years.  Just to lighten up the topic a little, enjoy the "fun facts" below.  I found them to be quite interesting.  Did you know that women are actually more attractive to mosquitoes than men??

AMCA Mosquito Fun FAQS

• Mosquitoes are known from as far back as the Triassic Period – 400 million years ago. They are known from North America from the Cretaceous – 100 million years ago.
• There are about 2,700 species of mosquito. There are 176 species in the United States.
• The average mosquito weighs about 2.5 milligrams.
• The average mosquito takes in about 5-millionths of a liter of blood during feeding.
• Mosquitoes find hosts by sight (they observe movement); by detecting infra-red radiation emitted by warm bodies; and by chemical signals (mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and lactic acid, among other chemicals) at distances of 25 to 35 meters.
• Mosquitoes fly an estimated 1 to 1.5 miles per hour.
• Salt marsh mosquitoes can migrate up to 40 miles for a meal.
• Bigger people are often more attractive to mosquitoes because they are larger targets and they produce more mosquito attractants, namely CO2 and lactic acid.
• Active or fidgety people also produce more CO2 and lactic acid.
• Women are usually more attractive to mosquitoes than men because of the difference in hormones produced by the sexes.
• Blondes tend to be more attractive to msoquitoes than brunettes.
• Smelly feet are attractive to mosquitoes – as is Limburger Cheese.
• Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes.
• Movement increased mosquito biting up to 50% in some research tests.
• A full moon increased mosquito activity 500% in one study