Interesting Facts About Mosquitoes

Mosquito season usually starts in the spring when temperatures outside reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Mosquito season can last throughout summer and fall. Mosquitoes emerge from hibernation where there is a warm spring following a cold winter. After mating, almost all females begin looking for blood to produce more eggs, even though their life cycles, habitats, and tolerance to cold vary.

Facts About Mosquitoes

• Only female mosquitoes bite. Male mosquitoes make do just fine with plants, but females need a blood meal before they can lay eggs.
• Flood-prone soil or shallow water are ideal places for females to lay their eggs.
• Around 250 million people are infected with malaria each year, mostly children in Africa, and approximately one million die from it.
• There are over 3,000 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world.
• It is estimated that mosquitoes live less than 2 months.
• A mosquito doesn’t have teeth. It uses its serrated proboscis to pierce the skin and locate capillaries.
• The bumps from bites are caused by saliva. The proboscis has two tubes. One draws blood and the other pumps saliva. The saliva usually causes minor allergic reactions, causing swelling and itching around the bite site.
• Mosquitoes are drawn to humans by their breath.  Their receptors can detect carbon dioxide released when we exhale.
• Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time and will lay eggs up to three times before they die.
• Mosquitos can hibernate and may live up to six months.

Medications for Mosquito Bites

• Apply a lotion, cream, or paste. Nonprescription hydrocortisone cream can ease the itching caused by bites. You can also dab the bite with a paste made from baking soda and water.
• Use a cool, moist cloth or cold pack to soothe the bite for a few minutes.
• Take an oral antihistamine. For stronger reactions, try taking a nonprescription antihistamine.

Natural Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

• Oatmeal can help relieve itching and swelling due to its compound that contains an anti-irritant.
• Crushed ice is also ne of the home remedies for mosquito bites. The cold also numbs the skin, which can give you immediate but short-term relief.
• Aloe vera gel has been shown to reduce pain from burns and help them heal faster.
• Onions may reduce the bite’s sting and irritation. Onions also have natural antifungal and antibacterial properties.
• Peppermint oil can also relieve itching.
• Applying honey to a bite may help reduce inflammation and prevent infection.