Facts and tips about mosquito bites

Summer isn’t all fun and games, folks. June to August is prime mosquito season and that means itchy, annoying bites. Are you one of those people that always seems to get bitten by mosquitoes?

On top of those itchy bites, mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, West Nile virus and the Zika virus.

As soon as the temperature warms in spring, mosquitoes start emerging and the females need to find a source of blood — which could be you! If you have a problem with mosquitoes, avoid the bites and contact our experts today.

Find out the answers to these questions and more below:

• Why do mosquitoes bite?
• What do mosquito bites look like?
• Why do mosquito bites itch?
• How can I treat mosquito bites?
• How can I prevent mosquito bites?

Here’s a fun fact for you, did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? Male mosquitoes don’t rely on human blood to develop and feed only on the nectar of flowers.

Female mosquitoes bite to engorge themselves on a cocktail of our blood. Our blood is rich in protein and other compounds which female mosquitoes need to help produce and develop their eggs.

When a mosquito bites you, she releases her saliva into the wound. Mosquito saliva contains an anticoagulant which helps the blood to flow easily while also ensuring the host is unaware of the activity, allowing the mosquito to feed without being disturbed.

There is no limit to the number of mosquito bites one of the insects can inflict. A female mosquito will continue to bite and feed on blood until she is full. After they have consumed enough blood, the mosquito will rest for a couple of days (usually between 2-3) before laying her eggs. Once this is complete she is ready to bite again.

Unlike bees, who will die after they have stung you, mosquitoes bites don’t kill the insects after they finish biting.

Like most insect bites, mosquito bites come in the form of swollen, red bumps. However, this can vary as different people react to mosquito bites in different ways.

Even though mosquito bites share some similarities in their appearance with other insect bites, there are some differences which can help you identify them. Mosquito bites can appear anywhere on your body, particularly in areas where the skin is exposed, such as arms and legs.

Western Exterminator mosquito experts pride themselves on having the knowledge to know what mosquito bites look like, compared to other insects, and how to deal with mosquitoes. Contact us today to find out how we can help end the biting.

Mosquito bites swell because your body is suffering from a very mild allergic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva. To combat the anti-coagulant delivered by the mosquito, your body releases a histamine to fight it. As a result, the area around the bite becomes inflamed.

The reason behind mosquito bites being so irritatingly itchy is quite simple really. Just like the swelling, the itchiness is due to your body reacting to the mosquito’s saliva. As the blood vessels around the bitten area begin to swell, they cause the nerves to become irritated, which results in the bite becoming itchy.

At first glance, flea bites and mosquito bites often look similar to one another. However, there are a few differences. For example, flea bites are usually felt immediately and are often found on the feet and lower legs.

Just like flea bites, mosquitoes bites also share some similarities with bed bug bites in terms of their appearance. Unlike mosquito bites, bed bug bites usually appear in a line and are usually small and flat.

Treating mosquito bites is a relatively easy task and can be done at home, and is similar to how you would treat other insect bites. You can treat mosquito bites by:

1. Cleaning the bite with warm soapy water.
2. Placing an ice pack on the bite to reduce the swelling
3. Taking an antihistamine to help relieve the itchiness.
4. Avoid scratching to reduce the risk of infection.

On top of the usual insect bite treatments, there are also a handful of home remedies you can try, to help treat mosquito bites by reducing the swelling and relieving the itch.

• Toothpaste: The menthol flavor of the toothpaste helps to soothe the bite
• Honey: Honey is a natural antibiotic and will help with the swelling
• Aloe vera: Aloe vera is a natural antiseptic agent and can help reduce the pain, swelling, and itching.

There are a couple of things you can do to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Wearing long sleeves when venturing outdoors will eliminate the areas in which a mosquito can bite you. Applying insect repellent will help keep them away.

The best way to prevent mosquito bites is to prevent mosquitoes themselves. Eliminating the source of the problem will drastically reduce the possibility of getting bitten by a mosquito. The following items will also aid in getting rid of mosquitoes:

• Mosquito traps: Installing mosquito traps and zappers will help keep these biting insects away
• Remove standing water: Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in stagnant water. Eliminating the potential breeding sites from your property will make it less appealing to mosquitoes.
• Professional treatment: Contacting a professional mosquito exterminator is the most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes. The range of mosquito services and solutions they can offer will help keep mosquitoes away, and reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

One of the biggest impacts mosquito bites can have is transmitting diseases. Mosquitoes are regarded as one of the deadliest animals on the planet due to the harmful viruses they spread, causing millions of deaths each year.

Learn about the different types of diseases mosquitoes are known to spread here.

Looking for help with a mosquito problem? Contact Western Exterminator today.