More intense, long-lasting mosquito bites? Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Skeeter syndrome

[Anonymous]

I grew up in the south and had a lot of mosquito bites from the most common mosquito at the time (southern house mosquito). Those mosquitos were active in the dusk and evening and caused normal bites -itchy, but not anything out of the ordinary. Since they bit mostly at night, you were mostly safe during daylight hours. I moved to Asia about 15 years ago and got devoured by Asian tiger mosquitos. Asian tigers are active in the daytime and they gave me huge welts.

In the 80’s, Asian tiger mosquitos entered the U.S. through shipping containers. It took a few decades, but now, Asian tiger mosquitos are more prevalent than the southern house mosquito in the south. They bite all day long, including at dawn. I moved to a climate with no mosquitos and it’s amazing. I can leave my windows and doors open and sit outside all evening with no bites. Mosquitos are the worst.

[Anonymous]

To the pp above, where are you now? Sounds glorious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this is happening to my kid this year, and to a lesser degree to me.

Same. My daughter’s legs look awful, and the bites aren’t fading. I’m hoping they don’t scar.

[Anonymous]

I also rarely get bit/have a reaction. Maybe you have some kind of health condition that is undiagnosed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have always been a mosquito magnet. I cannot sit out on my front porch for more than two minutes before they show up, trying to gain access to my ankles and arms, and the tops of my feet. So yes, I do try to typically use bug spray which I hate. This summer however I feel like every mosquito bite I get is more itchy and intense than any summer prior and the the itchy, dark raised bumps seem to last for at least a week. Is there a new strain of mosquito in the Washington DC area that is responsible? Does anyone else feel like the mosquito bites they're getting this particular summer have been worse than in past summers? That first frost can't come soon enough.

Sounds like you have a lower immune response to them and takes longer to heal. Could be diet or age or illness related.

Or they could be mosquito sized drones!

[Anonymous]

I've always had this reaction to mosquito bites OP. I also have an autoimmune disease and my immune system really tends to react to things like insect bites or certain foods.

You may be becoming more reactive. Have you had Covid lately? That could do it.

[Anonymous]

Where is this mosquito-free utopia?

[Anonymous]

I’d vote for anyone, ANYONE who took this seriously. It’s in our power to drastically reduce this scourge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d vote for anyone, ANYONE who took this seriously. It’s in our power to drastically reduce this scourge

So clouds of DDT to combat it?
Mosquitos have killed more humans throughout history than any other thing or health issue ever. It's impressive how mosquitos have affected human evolution and the planet.

They will exist as long as animals with blood exist, so will mosquitos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is this mosquito-free utopia?

At 7000’ in the Rockies. It’s dry, so there’s little standing water and the county also does mosquito abatement to prevent disease.

There are mosquitos in the wooded areas on the mountain, but there are few to none where I live. I’ve been bitten once or twice in the 7 years I’ve lived here. But if you go into the woods, you definitely need repellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As soon as you get a mosquito bite and it starts to itch touch it with something that is as hot as you can stand, like the back of a metal spoon that has been in boiling water.

I find that to be the most effective way to get the itch to permanently go away.

+1 I use a washcloth with boiling hot water. Works extremely well!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this mosquito-free utopia?

At 7000’ in the Rockies. It’s dry, so there’s little standing water and the county also does mosquito abatement to prevent disease.

There are mosquitos in the wooded areas on the mountain, but there are few to none where I live. I’ve been bitten once or twice in the 7 years I’ve lived here. But if you go into the woods, you definitely need repellent.

LMAO, never been to the Rocky Mountains I see. Outside of FL and Gulf Coast, the Rockies have the most mosquitos, though it's varied climates and topography help to mitigate their annoyance. Wind is your friend in the mountains.

Gets even worse at higher elevations, and especially higher lattitudes, as is more humid.

Desert mountains are what you seek. Even there in monsoon. Oof.

[Anonymous]

I am also a mosquito magnet & pretty reactive. I feel sort of like you do OP- that I am getting worse- but I mostly attribute it to a worse mosquito situation this summer. I think the wet early summer weeks did a number on our yard (despite efforts to eliminate any standing water) and I can literally see multiple mosquitos swarm me whenever I go out in the garden, morning or evening.

[Anonymous]

It could be oak mite bites.

"Oak-mite bites: Cicadas may have left D.C. region an itchy gift"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/07/30/oak-mites-bite-cicadas-dc/