CNJ+ September 2023

mosquitoes in New Jersey and they all pose some sort of health hazard. You may wonder why they itch so much. When mosquitoes probe around in your skin, they’re putting saliva into your body, and you react to the pro tein in the saliva. How big the welt is varies from person to person, especially because some people have allergic reactions. Most mosquito bites will swell and itch for a day or two and then get better over time. Try not to scratch them, as you do not want to break the skin. To reduce the swelling, apply an ice pack to the site, and for itching, a mixture of baking soda and water will help, or you can apply an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream. If the welt continues to get bigger, redder, and hot after five to seven days, it could be a sign of a bacterial infection called cellulitis, and antibiotics might be needed to treat it. If you start experiencing other symptoms, such as fever, headaches, or body aches, you might want to immediately consult with your doctor. You might have heard that mosquitoes die shortly after they suck your blood out. Unfortunately, it’s just a myth. All species of mosquitoes have the same four-stage life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. In general, a mosqui to’s entire life cycle from egg to adult takes around 8 to 10 days. Once they’re adult mosquitoes, their lifespan depends on whether they’re male or female: males only live about one to two weeks, while females can live for one to three months. After a mosquito has bitten you, the drawn blood nourishes her eggs with protein and amino acid. The female mosquito can live up to 100 days and lay anywhere between 200 to 300 eggs within her lifespan, so she is continually feeding. During feeding, a female mosquito can separate water from the blood supply using six needles within her proboscis. By injecting her saliva into the bloodstream, the mosquito prevents the blood from coagulating, which would interfere with her feeding. The side effect of the mosquito’s saliva is an itch that can be unbearable. So, as we glide through rest of the summer months, there is little else we can do to avoid these pesky things, except stay inside!

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How you landscape your yard helps, too. Keep your lawn clipped short, and plant vegetation that repels insects, such as:

• Lavender • Marigold • Citronella grass (lemon grass) • Catmint • Rosemary

• Basil • Mint • Sage • Allium Insect repellants can be an effective way to prevent mosquito bites. If you want to avoid these chemicals, a number of essential oils can also be used to keep mosquitoes at bay. Oil of lemon eucalyptus has been found to be the most effective natural mosquito repellent. Studies have also shown that citronella can provide a bit of protection. There are approximately 63 different types of mosquitoes in New Jersey. The three prevalent ones are, the Asian Tiger, Cattail, and white-footed woods mosquito. The Cattail mosquito can carry the eastern equine encephalitis virus. It attaches to sedges, cattails, and other plants. Adult specimens prefer forested places and are most active during the evening hours. Females are particu larly aggressive. Asian Tiger mosquitoes thrives in warm wet environments. They may car ry the west Nile virus, yellow fever, encephalitis, and other illnesses, as well as the zika disease. The white footed woods mosquito doesn’t pose the same danger as the others. They are extremely common and the female also tends to be very aggressive toward humans. In rare cases, they can transmit the western Nile and Venezuelan Encephalitis viruses. There are dozens of other types of

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