Ah, mosquitoes—the tiny vampires of the insect world. Originating from the warm, damp climates of Central Africa, these annoying critters have now spread their itchy reign across the globe. Their lineage can be traced back some 226 million years, proving mosquitoes are more than just a modern-day nuisance; they are seasoned veterans in the art of irritation. Having endured a particularly rough camping trip, I can testify that these pests seem to have made it their life mission to ruin our outdoor adventures. My 4-year-old came back with 36 bites, my 6-year-old with 20, and I have 10 bites on each foot alone.
I know I’m whining. I don’t work outside. You deal with mosquitoes on a daily basis, while I’m inside of our studios mosquito free. But that means when we finally get camping, it took getting used to the sheer number of mosquitoes, and a heck of a lot of DeepWood Off.
What does the interweb say about the little devils? Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, our body heat, and even the lactic acid in our sweat. They use their specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and feast on our blood. While sucking out our blood, they can leave behind saliva containing proteins that trigger mild immune system reactions, causing those terribly itchy welts. The ordeal doesn’t stop at the itching, though. Mosquitoes are notorious for spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika virus.
Ugh! I hate them. When I was little I was allergic to mosquito bites I attracted all of them, and then the bites would swell up to a scary size. Aren’t genetics great, my 4 year old is the exact same. It was a lot of anti-itch cream, reapplying bug spray, and band aides for us.
Thanks for reading my rant. It helps to keep my fingers busy with the typing, that way I’m not scratching.
-Tonya Cherry-
