Is That Whining I Hear?

     

Source:  flickr.com

  
We've lived in Flagstaff since 1989 and never had more than minor problems with a common summer curse:  mosquitoes.   Yes, they would be more plentiful during the monsoon; heat and water are breeding conditions for mosquitoes.  Typically, Ron was more attractive to them than I was and I was happy to have him as a diversion.

Until last year.

And this week.

We don't know what changed.  Last year there was such a sudden increase it was written up in the local Arizona Daily Sun.  According to their article, the monsoon does brings out floodwater mosquitoes, most commonly Ochlerotatus trivittatus. This one is a vector for heartworm in dogs.

Ochlerotatus trivittatus.  Source:  bug guide.net

   
   Also common is Psorophora columbiae, which is very annoying but not disease-carrying.

Psorophora columbiae.  Source:  bug guide.net

Last year, we had a normal monsoon. But this year is a record-setter for lack of monsoon activity.  Also odd to us is that there was only the occasional skeeter until about five days ago, when Ron reported being mobbed when he came back from the morning dog walk.  It's been hellish ever since.  Morning, noon and night, we're vulnerable.  No more lunches in the gazebo.  Ron works in the yard protected by long sleeves and Deet.  The neighbors bought a head net, though they haven't yet set up their screen tent on their deck like last year.  We've been wearing long sleeves and Deet on the dog walks.  It's a little disconcerting to hear them whining around the places Deet might have missed-especially the ears!

Apparently all mosquitoes need some water to hatch, but some need a lot less.  Our yard has moisture generally because it's green.  There are ponds, but the water is circulated for the waterfall and there are hungry goldfish in the bottom-most pond.  Ron monitors for any standing water reservoirs.  Sure, the neighbors could have standing water.  The puzzler is there are mosquitoes throughout the forest, unrelated to any larger bodies of water, and with the above-mentioned lack of monsoon.  And why are we getting hit so hard here at home when Sue and I hiked a few miles away on Friday with nary a bite or whine.?


What to do??? 

First and foremost, because of this experience and at the recommendation of our vet, we're now treating our dogs for heartworm. 

Next, given that we're following the typical advice, maybe it's time to call out the Big Guns.  Last year we talked about a solution used with good result by brother Scott and other relatives in NE, where mosquitoes have been an on-going issue since time immemorial.  He doesn't fool around with long sleeves or Deet.  He uses a mosquito-gitter like this:

Source:  lowes.com

It effective for about an acre, so could work for us and the neighbors.  They're kind of expensive to buy, and kind of expensive to run, needing electricity, propane, and bait.  But I've sat in a NE back yard in the summer with nary a whine or a bite.  Last year we talked about getting one this year, but didn't because we weren't having a problem until now.  This year we'll be considering harder for next year.  The neighbors said they'd share the cost.   That's about what we can do.

Besides whine ourselves.

10 Fun Facts About Mosquitoes

1.  Worldwide, mosquitoes kill ~700,000 people per year.  Humans kill ~400,000 people per year.

      Sharks kill ~6 people per year (Arizona Daily Sun 8/16/2019).       

2.   Mosquitoes are primarily attracted to our CO2 exhalations (Time 9/10/2014).

3.   There's evidence that people with Type 0 blood attract more mosquitoes  (Time 9/10/2014).

4.   There's also evidence that beer drinkers attract more mosquitoes. (Smithsonian 7/27/2011)

5.    Only females mosquitoes bite (www.megacatch.com).

6.    Male mosquitoes find females by the whining sound of their wings (www.megacatch.com).

7.    Mosquitoes are found everywhere in the world except Antarctica (www.havahart.com).

8.    A full moon can increase mosquito activity by 500% (www.off.com).

9.    A group of mosquitoes is called a swarm (www.mosquitohunters.com).

10.  We missed the 39th Annual Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Clute, TX.  It was July 25-27

        (www.mosquitofestival.com). 

If we walk in the woods, we must feed mosquitoes.

                                                                                                                      Ralph Waldo Emerson