Mosquitoes, the bane of our existence, seem to hate us as much as we hate them. One can only imagine the look on a mosquito’s face, filled with glee as it zooms in for the attack on a leg or an arm and then…WHAP! It is slapped down in its prime by its human mortal enemy. They keep coming and we keep swatting. When will it end?
Chances are it never will. Mosquitoes have been around longer than humans. Some experts estimate they have been on this planet for more than 200 million years. This must mean they have a purpose other than whizzing by our ears in the middle of the night with a sound that resembles high-pitched giggling.
According to Dr. Gilbert Waldbauer, author of the Handy Bug Answer Book, mosquito larvae are aquatic insects, and as such, play an important role in the aquatic food chain. Mosquito larvae are, in essence, nutrient-packed snacks for fish and other aquatic animals. As adults, mosquitoes serve as equally nutritious meals for birds, bats, and spiders.
As much as we loathe them, mosquitoes represent a considerable biomass of food for wildlife on the lower rungs of the food chain.
This doesn’t alter the fact that, worldwide, mosquito-borne diseases kill more people than any other single factor. Mosquitoes can be carriers of malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever in humans. In the United States, mosquitoes spread several types of encephalitis such as the West Nile Virus.
In the bloodstream of humans, the virus multiplies and crosses the blood/brain barrier. When this happens, the virus can cause West Nile encephalitis, a serious condition resulting in the inflammation of brain tissue. However, it is important to note that most people who become infected have either no symptoms or only mild symptoms. Also, if a person does contract the virus, natural immunity is developed that is assumed to last all their life. The virus cannot be spread by human to- human contact.
So our best bet is to try not to get bien. An insurmountable task, but here are some tips from the CDC:
• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin fabric.
• Apply insect repellent containing 35% DEET to exposed skin (other effective mosquito repellents, as reported by the CDC in April 2005, are picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus).
• Always read and follow manufacturer’s directions when using repellents, and avoid applying to the hands of children.
• Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
• Vitamin B and “ultrasonic” devices are not effective in preventing mosquito bites.
