It is on, mosquitoes. This sopping spring guarantees Houstonians will have to be more vigilant against the pests than ever.
The mosquito kills about 1 million humans a year, chiefly from malaria, making it by far the deadliest life form on the planet, reports the World Health Organization.
The city has already logged its first case of West Nile virus this year, even though the season usually peaks in August.
Houstonians have a couple of weeks to gear up for the mosquito onslaught, said Joe Conlon, an entomologist and technical adviser with the American Mosquito Control Association.
The floodwaters from the recent heavy rains washed many of the existing larvae away, but the puddles remaining give the next generation of troublemakers a good nursery. “Then the problems will start in spades,” Conlon said.
Dry weather over the past few years has suppressed insect numbers, but that’s all over now, said Sonja Swiger, an entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Stephenville.
“The flood put a twist on things,” she said. “It’s going to be overwhelming in a couple of weeks. Lots of rain activates mosquitoes,” she said.
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Why do some people seem to attract mosquito bites while others don’t?
Genetics, Conlon said. “Some people are not intrinsically attractive and give off odors repellent to mosquitoes,” he said. Others, especially with fairer skin, seem desirable. Nothing you can eat will fend them off, not even garlic.
Gardening with plants such as citronella grass also doesn’t do the trick because the concentration of the oil mosquitoes hate is too weak. Nor is Conlon a fan of all-natural essential oil concoctions, saying they are unproven and risky in light of the dangers from diseases. He recommends an Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellent. “It could be a matter of life and death, literally,” he said.
In any case, Tesh said, we’re not going to win this fight. “It’s not a matter of winning. We’re all just surviving,” he said. “I’m afraid they’re here to stay.”
Cursing mosquitoes is a common action when we have had heavy rain. I personally douse myself in Deet to ward them off, but your mileage may vary. Do what you can to drain any standing water in your immediate area, cover up as needed, and hope for the best. Hair Balls has more.
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