When I was growing up, we used to spend about three weeks in Minnesota every summer visiting my grandparents. While there, they would plan all kinds of fun things for us to do, like going to the science museum, the zoo, Twins games or golfing with my grandpa. All of these contributed to this time being the highlight of my summer.
One small, always present thing, however, severely limited my enjoyment.
We would get on the golf course too early so we could beat the heat and the worst thing about Minnesota — the bloodsucking annoyances, mosquitoes!
It was not like we were hiding from a few select bugs, it seemed like we would sometimes walk through clouds of them.
I had forgotten just how much I disliked them until we recently were on vacation at Seeley Lake, and the memories swarmed back.
If there is any hope in appreciating the mosquito’s plight, we must know their story.
Depending on the species, females either lay their eggs on the surface of water or in protected areas that tend to flood. Eggs can be laid separately or grouped together like a raft.
From the eggs they grow into larvae then pupae. The length of each stage is dependent on the species and the temperature of the water. It is after this stage that they change into adults, the form I am most familiar with.
Once they are able to fly around and get their food, males focus on flowers because they do not have long enough mouth parts to do what their female counterparts do, which is look for blood. Blood provides the females with more protein, which is needed each time they lay eggs.
To help locate this nourishing meal, mosquitoes developed some highly sophisticated ways to find their prey.
Mosquitoes are able to locate prey through chemical reception, visual sensors and heat sensors. My dad and I have always thought mosquitoes prefer us over my mom and sister. Maybe it’s because the clothing we wear attracts them, or we give off more heat, or sweat more. Such things can help mosquitoes find us better.
When we get a bite, there are a couple things going on. First, a mosquito’s long proboscis — that needle nose — moves into our skin and contains an anticoagulant that keeps our blood from clotting to make the bug’s job a little easier.
Next, our bodies try to defend against the proteins left behind and thus we have the itchy lump. This lump is why I always take preventive measures to keep mosquitoes away.
To do this with full success, I enclose myself in what feels like a body bag — a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and socks above the ankle. If this is not feasible for you on a hot summer day, as often times is the case for me, bug repellent is another alternative. Bug spray works by not only blocking our chemicals from the bugs but also by emitting an unpleasant odor to deter them.
The moral of this story is be glad we live in Montana and not Minnesota. In Montana, we don’t have to spend our days always worrying about these bugs.
Happy summer!
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