Do mosquitoes bite in clusters? Yes, sometimes a single mosquito bites a bunch of times around the same location. I often get a cluster of bites on my feet. The extremities ( hands and feet) are the most likely location for many bites, although anywhere on the body is possible. Keep in mind, however, that many insect bites look similar to mosquito bites and it’s easy to get them confused. For example, mites and bed bugs also bite in clusters and have a similar appearance. If the cluster of bites happened at night while sleeping, this is a possible explanation. If you mhave dogs in your house, fleas can bite people, too. But mosquitoes are notorious for biting at night, as well. In this article, we take a look at why mosquitoes bite in clusters, and how best to treat the associated inflammation and itch. How to treat a cluster of […]

Mosquitoes love to attack at night while a person is in bed sleeping. Personally, I often get mosquito bites in clusters on my feet while I’m sleeping or out-and-about at night. If a hungry mosquito is on a rampage in your room at night, there are several tricks you can use to protect yourself (described below).  One is to turn the artificial light on. This tricks the little bastage into thinking it is daytime. Give it a try. It works. The mosquito usually goes back into hiding and leaves me alone. Why do mosquitoes prefer to feed at night, and what can we do to protect ourselves? Let’s take a look. It’s safer for mosquitoes to be active at night For a moment, put yourself in the shoes of a hungry mosquito. You know that your life is in mortal danger every time you go in for a blood meal. […]

Usually, mosquito bites don’t have heavy discoloration. The raised bite wound itself may be somewhat reddish. That’s normal. But sometimes a mosquito bite is immediately surrounded by a red or pinkish rash. The discolored ring of flesh may bring fears of serious infection or even Lyme disease. But how worried should you really be? What causes a red circle around a mosquito bite? An itchy mosquito bite is simply an allergic reaction to saliva /  liquids injected into the skin. Some people have a severe reaction to mosquito bites, while others don’t much of any. The wide deviation is due to individual differences in allergies to specific types of mosquitoes, along with many other variables. A red circle around a mosquito bite is just a more severe allergic reaction, and usually not a sign of something more serious. It is most commonly seen in children and toddlers? Why? When we are […]

So, you have a really annoying and itchy mosquito bite. It’s tempting to just burst it open and squeeze, right? Wouldn’t that help get the toxins out and get your sanity back quicker? The answer is no. You shouldn’t pop a mosquito bite because it can cause many complications, described below. And it makes it take longer for the mosquito bite to go away, too. Let’s take a look a the top 5 reasons popping a mosquito bite isn’t a good idea. 1) It will take longer for the bite to go away How long does it take for a mosquito bite to go away naturally? It depends on the type of mosquito and your specific allergic reaction to its injections. In other words, it varies. Generally speaking though, a mosquito bite can take up to 24 hours to go away on its own. But 30 minutes to a few […]

Making an X on a mosquito bite with the fingernail of your thumb or forefinger does indeed dull the sensation of itchiness. Unfortunately, the relief is fleeting. But this method does work temporarily. In this article, we examine why it works, note some potential dangers of the technique, and explore more traditional modes of treating mosquito bites. How does it work? When you mark an X on a mosquito bite, you are causing another sensation: pain. Both itchiness and pain are communicated to the brain via electrical signals that travel through the same nerve endings. So the brain receives indicators for both pain and itchiness from the mosquito bite. But the brain interprets pain as more important than itchiness, and that is what you feel. The itch is, essentially, replaced by the feeling of mild pain. Why? There is actually good evolutionary basis for this phenomenon. Pain is generally more dangerous […]

One would think that a jacket and trousers would provide adequate protection from mosquitoes. And clothes do furnish a decent defense against the nefarious bloodsuckers. But anyone who has spent time in the woods can assure you that clothes aren’t always enough to shield you from mosquito bites. It can be surprising when on the receiving end of a bite through thick denim jeans or socks. How is it possible? Mosquitoes have special tools that can slice through clothes Mosquitos have a unique mouthpart, called a proboscis, that can pierce right through clothes and woven fabric. The proboscis is a flexible, tubelike apparatus emanating from the mouth (see photo). The length, flexibility, and needle-like shape of the proboscis lends itself to slicing through clothing and soft material with ease. The mosquito proboscis has no less than six needles, each performing various functions when it bites. Two of the needles are called mandibles, which […]