In other languages, the variety of words for what we in the United States call the mosquito darn near reads like a string of profanities.
``Myg'' and ``myyga,'' say the Scandinavians, while the Greeks curse and say ``konopus'' and the Spanish bark ``zancudos'' as they slap and scratch. The Germans get really annoyed, slamming down their beers to call the pests ``stechmucken'' or ``schnacke.'' The French, always dignified, have more subdued terms, such as ``les cousins,'' or ``les moucherons.'' As far back as 300 B.C., Aristotle even named the pests ``empis'' in his ``Historia Animalium.''
All across the globe people and animals are bugged by these bugs. And no wonder. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, more than 2,500 species of mosquitoes inhabit the world, with 150 species recorded in the United States, about 20 to 30 of which call Athens home. Life spans of different species vary; some live as little as four days, while others survive as long as one month.
Surprisingly, not all mosquitoes bite. The itchy red bumps are actually only left by females, which require blood from vertebrate animals to develop eggs. Males aren't equipped with the same skin-piercing-and-sucking proboscis as females and have to stick to nectar for food.
Itchies aside, there are more serious side effects left by mosquitoes. The pesky pests can carry and pass along diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever, which are extremely rare in the United States. There have been a few reports here yearly, however, of western equine encephalitis or St. Louis encephalitis, also passed through mosquito bites. Although rare, both can cause fatal neurological ailments in humans.
So when the barbecue's a-cookin' and the pool's a-callin' and the sun's a-shinin', how's a person supposed to enjoy the great outdoors with all these dang bugs a-bitin'?
Mark Brown, professor of entomology at the University of Georgia, says the best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding grounds, in other words, beat 'em at their own game of procreation.
Females lay eggs in still water, so it's best to keep covers on pools when not in use, clean debris from rain gutters and change bird baths and wading pool water at least once a week. Ornamental pools should be stocked with predacious minnows, also known as mosquito fish, which consider mosquito larvae and eggs to be fine dining.
``Mosquitoes can live in only to of an inch of water, so there are a number of places around your home where you can eliminate the possibility of breeding,'' Brown said.
``Humans have made their own problems with mosquitoes by providing them so many places to breed,'' said Don Champagne, assistant professor of entomology at UGA.
``Mosquitoes don't travel very far, so if you have a lot on your property, it probably means they're breeding in things around your house. Things you wouldn't necessarily suspect, like dog dishes, the saucers you use under plants to collect water, holes in trees, toys in the sandbox left out in the rain - and old tires are notorious for collecting water. Things like these are very effective mosquito factories,'' Champagne said.
Additional advice from the American Mosquito Control Association includes recommendations to fill in swampy areas and ditches as well as tree holes and stumps, which should be packed with mortar. The AMCA also advises to watch for cisterns, cesspools and septic tanks. And as Champagne notes, isn't it about time you cleared out those old tin cans, tires and other miscellaneous debris from your yard anyway?
Champagne also says there are some bogus bug killers on the market, such as repellent bracelets and a device which is supposed to sound like the beating wings of a dragonfly to frighten off interested mosquitoes. No dice, says Champagne.
Bug zappers, which electrocute bugs are also not effective on mosquitoes, as mosquitoes are attracted to people, not ultraviolet light. An interesting aside, adds Champagne, is that not only do the zappers actually kill beneficial insects, but they also explode all insects - including the common virus-carrying housefly - into millions of tiny parts, throwing them 6 to 8 feet in all directions. Because zappers are often placed in picnic areas, ``People are actually generating a rain of bug parts onto food,'' Champagne said. ``I would prefer people didn't use those at all, anyway, because 99.9 percent of the insects they kill are either harmless or beneficial.''
As for keeping mosquitoes off your skin, Brown says it's best to simply cover up - long sleeves and long pants. Of course, in the heat of summer, donning warm clothes isn't the most appealing option. Both Brown and Champagne say any repellent sprays or lotions containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) have been found most effective. Users should be cautioned, however, as there have been a few reports that children exposed to DEET in large amounts have had adverse reactions. And, according to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project, the chemical ``may damage synthetic materials such as clothing or plastics.''
``It's important that people follow the directions on the label, because they've been pretty meticulous to balance the effectiveness with the safety of the product,'' Champagne said.
Repellents basically mask a scent in our skin which tells mosquitoes our blood contains the necessary compounds for feeding, Champagne adds.
The most common species of mosquito in this area is the Asian Tiger mosquito, which Brown and Champagne say displaced another species in the mid-'80s. Unfortunately, unlike the previous species, the Tiger mosquito feeds throughout the day, whereas some species feed only during the evening hours.
Champagne's studies have taken him into the fascinating world of mosquito saliva, which is filled with a variety of proteins serving a number of functions. Mosquitoes, it seems, actually can inject proteins into the wound they've pricked their victim with while sucking blood at the same time. Ideally, mosquitoes dine undisturbed for two to four minutes, during which time proteins in the saliva keep the blood of the victim from coagulating, in turn keeping the wound from healing as it normally would. Other proteins even trick the blood vessels into dilating, to enhance the surge of the blood flow while the mosquito feeds.
As for the itching, that's a reaction of our own immune systems, which have been tricked by the mosquito's proteins. Champagne says that some people who have been exposed to a high number of bites over a period of years actually may no longer itch, as their immune systems have adapted to and overcome the trickery of the saliva proteins. By the way, there's no truth to the rumor that if you flex a muscle while a mosquito is feeding, it will cause a mosquito explosion, Champagne says.
Studies on the saliva of other insects have led to drug discoveries. Champagne refers to an isolated protein from black fly saliva, for instance, which now is used to speed wound healing.
Owing to the diseases mosquitoes spread, Champagne says there is much room for study. He notes that each year in Africa, 3 million children die from malaria, which is largely transmitted through mosquito bites - while another 200 million people are infected with it annually.
``We've basically eradicated malaria here in the States. But it's still a huge problem elsewhere. And that's the goal of the research I'm doing - to eventually have an impact on mosquito-borne viruses throughout the world,'' Champagne said.
As for those of us lucky enough to live in the United States, we should simply get rid of standing water, cover up, get out the bug spray, citronella candles, torches and coils - all of which have been found effective - and count our blessings. The itchies aren't fun, but there are certainly worse fates dealt by the insect world.
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