Mosquito Madness
In addition to the ticks, 2012 has also been the worst year for mosquitoes in the Southeastern US. We always have more of these than most other places on a regular basis, but this year seems to top it off. All due to that mild, warm winter without a killing frost.
I have lived in some places that were pretty bad but these pesky critters are everywhere!
You can spend about ten minutes outside and need a blood transfusion because they attack you by the swarms. Around here when the mosquitoes are bad we say “they’ll tote you off”. No kidding. They will. Almost literally. If I ever have to go outside during their lunch time, I set a timer on a tactical watch my father gave me. No blood transfusions for me, thank you.
Mosquito bites are so itchy in addition to the blood transfusion you are literally clawing yourself to death. Hundreds of red whelps appear on any exposed skin you have including your face. Arms, legs, face, hands, feet–you name it; they’ll bite it.
That high pitched hum in your ear is just as annoying as everything else about these pesky critters.
Around here we call ’em skeeters–and we hate ’em.
Populations were so bad that exterminators have had to treat places for both larvae and adults.
West Nile is on the rebound. I haven’t heard of any cases way out here, but there have been reports in the Atlanta area.
Haven’t heard of malaria, yellow fever, or all the other nasties they carry, but that doesn’t mean there have been cases of it somewhere.
I wished I could go outside without having to put something stinky on. Can I go off somewhere without putting on the Off! spray? It’s that or be swarmed and itching in addition to being a few ounces lighter. Decisions, decisions. Dilemmas…
I think we have 3 or 4 cans of insect repellant, thermacells, citronella candles, and all that wonderful stuff to ward of the swarms. What did our ancestors do to ward off the hoards so they didn’t itch to death?
I’m hoping for a frost bomb this year that will nuke the pesky little critters. Let justice be served!
About the Author
AK Taylor
AK Taylor is an award winning YA author who has been writing novels since age 16. Beekeeper, outdoor sportsman, avid adventurer, and animal lover. Taylor lives in the backwoods of Middle GA where she continues to write stories.
Here on the West Coast we’re suffering through the three plagues – ticks, foxtails, yellow jackets. It’s never been this bad. We have some West Nile too, but I have yet to get a single mosquito bite. Haven’t even seen any mosquitoes.
I feel your pain…
Lol, Julia! You’re lucky! We have all the mentioned bugs and then some. Ugh! Have a mild winter too 😉
I’m a Southern California girl and have been my entire life.
This and many reasons are why I refuse to live in the South. I camped out there one day during the summer. It was only ONE DAY, but I will never forget it.
It was so humid, I felt horrible. My hair because of the humidity went back to being curly, even though I had flat ironed it straight.
And I made the mistake of camping out (because no one told me otherwise!) in a short skirt. The next day, my legs were COVERED in mosquito bites. I had so many mosquito bites on one part of my thigh that there was just one giant swollen thing about the size of a baseball.
It was horrible. I had to cover my legs in calamine lotion. There were those blotches everywhere.
Oh my! That was a horrible experience! You also may have experienced chiggers in addition to the mosquito bites ;). If you ever come back out to the south, Deep Woods Off! is your best friend! Coming in the spring or fall is also best!