Recently I have been afraid to leave my house. I am worried about being attacked by one of the world's most deadly animals. In addition to being dangerous, they are extremely annoying. The horrible Aedes vexans may have vexed you and your loved ones too. The saliva she injects when she bites (and it is the female that sucks your blood) causes those miserable, red, itchy things we call mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes can be deadly because they can spread diseases such as West Nile Virus. Fortunately, the type that invaded our area recently, Aedes vexans, is a floodwater mosquito species. They are bothersome and prolific. They bite during the daytime and nighttime. Even though they are true nuisance mosquitoes, they do not seem to carry West Nile Virus.
My preferred method of protection is staying inside with a good book. One of my favorites is Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. This West African tale won the Caldecott Award for illustration.
If you are interested in more factual information, check out
Mosqui
toes: Hungry for Blood 
(Bloodsuckers series)
Mosquitoes
(World of Insects series)
Mosquitoes can be deadly because they can spread diseases such as West Nile Virus. Fortunately, the type that invaded our area recently, Aedes vexans, is a floodwater mosquito species. They are bothersome and prolific. They bite during the daytime and nighttime. Even though they are true nuisance mosquitoes, they do not seem to carry West Nile Virus.
All sorts of information about mosquitoes, including a fascinating (at least I thought so) video of the swimming behavior of larval mosquitoes can be found on the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District website. You can also find information about protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
If you are interested in more factual information, check out
Mosqui
toes: Hungry for Blood 
(Bloodsuckers series)
Mosquitoes
(World of Insects series)
My 5 year old loves the book Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. I remember loving it as a child, too.
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