Mosquitoes, Star Trek and Microneedles
Pumping Blood
Eating Overload
Population Density: How Many Mosquitoes Are There on an Average Night?
The Worst Party Ever: An (Involuntary) Blood Drive
Exsanguination: The Worst-Case Scenario
Pity the Caribou
Watch Out for Grandma Skeeter!
Once Bitten
Why Some Years Are Worse Than Others
The Genetics of Vulnerability to Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes as Disease Vectors: Flying Syringes
Malaria: A Deadly Package Delivered by a Mosquito
Attack of the Clones
A Terrible Toll
Humanity and Malaria: Familiar Foes
Evolution in Action: The Malaria Hypothesis
Quinine and Sweet Wormwood Save the Day
Efforts to Eradicate Malaria
Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever
West Nile Virus: New Kid on the Block
Mosquitoes and Encephalitis
Heartworm
Get Rid of That Standing Water!
Location, Location, Location—and Time
What’s a Mosquito’s Favorite Color?
DEET: The Gold Standard
General Tips for Using DEET
Pyrethrum, Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: Chrysanthemums to the Rescue
Permethrin is for Use on Clothing, Not Skin
General Tips for Using Permethrin on Clothing
Using Other Types of Permethrin Insecticides
Picaridin: Another Product Inspired by a Natural Repellent
General Tips for Using Picaridin
Eucalyptus Isn’t Just for Koalas: Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, a Natural Mosquito Repellent
General Tips for Using PMD and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
IR3535: A Clunky Name, but a Popular Choice Across the Pond
General Tips for Using IR3535
What Doesn’t Work: Superstitions, Mosquito Traps and Other Bogus “Cures”
Mosquito Control on the Home Front: Mosquito Dunks and Citronella
A Mosquito Miscellany: The Weird, the True, and the Funny of Mosquito Lore
Mosquitoes in War
Bugs in Battle: Entomological Warfare!
Time for Payback: The World Mosquito Killing Championship
Annoyance, Meet Terror: The Botfly
An Ongoing Science
New Approaches and Treatments
Invasive Species and Mosquitoes in a Warming World
Getting Involved
Identifying Aedes, Anopheles and Culex Mosquitoes
How to Identify Potential Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes
Identifying Eggs
Identifying Larvae
Identifying Adults
Table of Repellents/Insecticides
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do mosquitoes bite?
Mosquitoes don’t actually obtain nutrition from blood. Instead, female mosquitoes use the blood to obtain the proteins needed to produce a batch of eggs. Without a “blood meal” most species can’t produce eggs.
How many mosquitoes are there in my yard?
This is one of the most common questions about mosquitoes, but it is also one of the hardest to answer. The reason is pretty obvious: mosquitoes are small, hard to track, and populations vary greatly by species, habitat, and light and weather conditions. This is all too easy to observe—your front yard might be miraculously mosquito-free, but mosquitoes might chase you out of your garden. Suffice it to say: we’re seriously, seriously outnumbered.
What’s the most effective repellent?
Not all mosquito repellents are created equal. DEET is considered the “gold standard” of repellents, so much so that all others are compared to it. A number of other effective repellents are now on the market, including Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (aka PMD) and IR3535. Take note, however, that not every repellent works equally well against every species of mosquito, and they vary wildly by concentration and how long they protect you from mosquitoes. What’s more, some should not be used on young children. Always read the product labels and heed the directions when choosing a product. When in doubt, consult your doctor.
How can I fight back against mosquitoes?
Know
