Why Do We Need Mosquitos?

Every summer from the time my daughter was born, she has always gotten  mosquito bites all over her. We have tried everything from sprays with the highest Deet to natural stuff and she still gets them. I have noticed that she gets less of them with the natural stuff. People are always asking her when we are out in public, does your daughter have chicken pox? She’s embarrassed and so am I. I feel sorry for her.

Mosquitoes are considered to be the most deadliest insect on Earth.  Millions of people each year die from diseases caught from mosquito biting such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Mosquitoes also pose a threat to livestock and pets. Believe it or not, mosquitoes were here long before us. The oldest mosquito fossil dates back as far as 200 millions years, to the Cretaceous period. So you we know the mosquito has a ecological purpose. 

So, why do we need them?
Mosquitoes are aquatic insects, they play an important role in the aquatic food chain. According to Dr. Gilbert Waldbauer, author of the kids book The Handy Bug Answer Book, “mosquito larvae are filter feeders that strain tiny organic particles such as unicellular algae from the water and convert them to the tissues of their own bodies, which are, in turn, eaten by fish.” Mosquito larvae are, in essence, nutrient-packed snacks for fish and other aquatic animals.

Why Mosquitoes “Bite”
Matter of fact, they don’t “BITE.” They suck blood from their prey using their proboscis. They primarily don’t suck on blood alone from humans and animals. They also feed on nectar. They need the blood for added nutrients, especially for reproduction. Mosquito’s are mostly on the prowl at dawn and dusk. During these times, they hunt and then strike. Landing on the skin of the victim, they initially apply its saliva to act as a painkiller, to mask its bloodsucking activity. After the application of the painkiller the mosquito will then put out its proboscis, a hollow needle-like structure in its head, and stick it into the skin of the victim to suck blood. As it sucks blood, its abdomen will noticeably bulge as it fills with blood. It will continue to do so until it is  filled. If you are bitten by a mosquito, you will only feel the itch and pain a few minutes after the bite took place. Pain and itch is then followed by swelling.

How to Stop Mosquito Bites from Itching
The itch itself is caused by the mosquito’s saliva – an anticoagulant. It causes our bodies to produce a histamine response and this creates a slight itchiness around the bite area from a slightly allergic response. For people who are more sensitive to mosquito bites, the healing time can take longer than for those less susceptible, so it’s a case of knowing your limits and treating yourself regularly and effectively.

• Do your best not to scratch that itch. Doing so will aggravate the irritation, making it itchier and more prone to infection.

Take care of the bite immediately by using rubbing alcohol, or plain water.

• For those who have a severe reaction to the bites and look as if they’ve caught chicken pox, apply an antihistamine cream or lotion. Especially effective are ointments containing a combination of an antihistamine, analgesic, and corticosteroid as this can relieve pain and itching as well.
• If an infection develops from the bites, or from scratching them, see your physician immediately.

Here are a few natural and common household remedies.

Baking Soda: A strong alkaline solution will often ease the insect itching.

• Make a paste of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) mixed with warm water.
• Gently apply to the affected area. Use your clean fingers, or a cotton swab, or a Popsicle stick to apply.
• Leave on a few minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Vinegar treatment:

• Make a thick paste of cornflour and apple cider vinegar.
• Gently apply the paste to the affected area.
• Allow to dry. It will alleviate the itching by the time it has dried.
• Wash off using warm water.

Witch hazel treatment

• Try adding distilled Witch hazel to Calamine lotion as an effective pain relief and itch soother for mosquito bites.

Aspirin

• Rub a wet aspirin over the affected area. Naturally, do not use this method if the person is allergic to aspirin.

Toothpaste

• Rub some toothpaste over the the bite area. This can work like a charm to relieve itching.

Lemons/Limes

• Cut lemon or lime into pieces and rub gently on the affected area, or just squirt a bit of juice on it. Citric acid has some itch-relieving properties.

Banana
One of the most effective home remedies you can use is a banana peel. This can help you immediately ease the pain and itch. Get the peelings of a banana and rub the inside part to the affected area for a few seconds up to a minute. Swelling and itching almost always immediately disappears.

• Wiping the slime from your skin too early will alter or stop the treatment.

Onions

• Rub the sap of an onion over the bite.

Egg

• Crack an egg. Inside the shell of the egg you will find a flexible membrane. Cover the bite with the membrane and let dry. As it contracts it will draw out some of the toxins.

Oatmeal

• Use your breakfast oatmeal. Oatmeal is renowned for its anti-itching properties, so make a small paste of it and apply to the bite area. Allow to dry, then waste off.

Don’t Itch!!!