Darn mosquitos

Is it just me or are the mosquitos especially pesky this year? Over the weekend I was outside doing yardwork and over the course of maybe 20 minutes I was bitten 489,765 times! Ok - slight exaggeration - I was bitten 12 times. 8 bites Friday night (my own fault - I forgot to put mosquito repellent on) and 4 bites Saturday afternoon (even after I practically bathed in "OFF"). What's the deal with that? My niece was also bit several times, as was my son. I suspect the culprit may be the drainage ditch that is behind our back yard. When it rains, the water runs off into the drainage ditch & then eventually drains out. With all the rain we've been getting lately, I'm sure it's a breeding ground for mosquitos.

Which got me to thinking - what is it about some people that make them more attractive to mosquitos than other people. My husband and daughter very rarely get bit. They bathe every day just like I do, but regardless my son and I are usually the ones that bear the brunt of the bites. I decided to do a bit of research on the internet and learned some interesting things. One website that I found is the "Amerian Mosquito Control Association Website" - www.mosquito.org

Following are mosquito facts taken from the AMCA website:

• 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. (I suspect at least half of this is my blood!)
• 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.
• 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

Hmmm - let's think about this - maybe I should a) stay inside during a full moon; b) when I am outside, move very slowly - although faster than 1.5 miles per hour so I can beat the mosquito; c) make sure my feet don't smell bed; d) don't eat Limburger Cheese and e) have a sex change so I'll be less attractive to the mosquitos.

On another note - don't forget today is "National Drive-Thru Day". If you're going out to eat or to the bank, etc.make sure you use the drive thru!