Guest Author - Kimi Ross

There are at least twenty-five species of mosquitoes in Alaska. Since they are present from April to September in most places, they are an inescapable part of the Alaska experience. So why not learn a few facts about these interesting insects?

1. Only females bite. Yes, it’s true. Actually, they don’t bite, per se, but stick a complex apparatus into the target’s skin to pump a small amount of blood out of the “patient.” The protein in blood is necessary for egg development, not for nutritional needs of the adult mosquito.

2. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded and subject to the whim of environmental temperature. They function best at about 80° F, become lethargic around 60° F, and are completely inactive and unable to move at temperatures of 50° F and lower. For Alaskans, this means that our cool summer nights are often mosquito free. And with the 24 hours of daylight, it’s a great time to be outside!

3. Mosquitoes are not major vectors for disease in Alaska. When I moved to Alaska, I was concerned about keeping my dogs free from heartworm. In Arizona (not a big mosquito state, dry as it is) I had my dogs tested annually and gave them the appropriate preventative. Surely Alaska, with all its mosquitoes, would be a hotbed for this deadly canine disease. Not! I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there is no heartworm in Alaska – despite all the mosquitoes and dogs here. In fact, the incidence of mosquito-borne disease in Alaska is low to non-existent due to our short summer season and short mosquito season.

4. Mosquitoes are pollinators. Despite the fact that we tend to think of them as blood-suckers, adult mosquitoes actually get their nutritional needs met by nectar. Thus, like other nectar feeders, they work as pollinators while searching for food.

5. Most mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. So lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs, puddles, birdbaths and buckets of rainwater are good breeding environments for mosquitoes. If you want to cut down on the mosquitoes around your home, eliminate as much standing water as possible.

6. Mosquitoes hunt by smell. They are attracted by heat and chemical odors (that are generally not detectable by humans). Carbon dioxide is a big attractant, which all mammals release as a waste product of breathing. Some bright inventor put that concept to work and created those propane powered mosquito magnets – basically big carbon dioxide emitters that attract mosquitoes and then trap them. Yes, they really do work.

7. All species of mosquitoes go through several life stages: egg, pupae, larvae and adult. Mosquitoes can overwinter in any of these stages as determined by species. In some species, eggs may lie dormant for up to five years.

8. Individual species of mosquitoes target different prey. Most species do not target humans (whew!). Many prefer horses, birds or other mammals. Some prefer frogs!

9. Mosquitoes are deadly. It is estimated that more people have died from mosquito-borne disease (dengue, malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, filariasis, and West Nile Virus) than any other cause. The influence of the mosquito on human history and human endeavors makes for interesting reading.

10. Mosquitoes are part of the food chain web. Although they are not a major food source for any one species, mosquitoes feed birds, fish, bats, and other insects (like dragonflies). Here at home, we enjoy the aerial displays of both dragonflies and tree swallows as they go about their business of snatching mosquitoes in mid-air.




Want to learn more about mosquitoes? Check out The Mosquito Book. It's full of great facts written in an entertaining format. Available at Amazon.com.