Mosquitoes are a common issue in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with both seen and un-seen flying and biting bugs. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, it is recommended to wear long sleeves and pants, use insect repellent on exposed skin, and avoid standing areas. Mosquito bites can be worse just before sunrise and at dusk, and if you forget to spray twice per day, you may get bites. February is “dry” season, so mosquitos like damp areas, but they are not guaranteed to be nonexistent. Whale watching is considered one of the safer activities due to the presence of mosquitoes.
The mosquito situation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico can be influenced by factors such as the tropical climate and proximity to bodies of water. Mosquito activity tends to peak during the rainy season, and there are definitely mosquitoes and dengue. It is essential to spray with family off daily as you are too old to risk dengue. Despite what people on this forum say about sunscreen and sunscreen, mosquitoes are not to be taken lightly when staying in the vicinity of the jungle in Puerto Vallarta.
Mosquitoes are not to be taken lightly when staying in the vicinity of the jungle in Puerto Vallarta. There is an abundance of conservation regarding mosquitoes in and around Puerto Vallarta, and some of us are just too delicious for our own good. The main culprit is an almost invisible fly called a no-see-um, nono, or sand flea. Mosquitoes are not a very big problem here, certainly less than Wisconsin.
In conclusion, mosquitoes are a significant issue in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and visitors should be aware of their presence and the potential dangers they pose. It is crucial to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes while enjoying your vacation in paradise.
| Article | Description | Site |
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| Mosquitoes – Puerto Vallarta Forum | Mosquitoes are back now with all the recent heavy rains, but not overly bad like it will be soon in the next few months. There are a lot more … | tripadvisor.com |
| How bad are the bugs and mosquitoes? – Puerto Vallarta … | Mosquitos galore, among other seen and un-seen flying and biting bugs. To answer your question — they can be very bad (no wearing shorts or a … | tripadvisor.ca |
| Bugs/insects in Puerto Vallarta over Winter : r/puertovallarta | Here now in nice villa w pools and mosquitoes are an issue if we leave doors open- I would suspect they could be an issue. Upvote 2. Downvote | reddit.com |
📹 Why Does Bill Gates Breed Mosquitoes? #shorts
Bill Gates’ Mosquito Army Why does Bill Gates breed mosquitoes? Bill Gates releases 30 million mosquitoes into the wild every …
How Is Puerto Vallarta Tackling The Mosquito Problem?
Para combatir la situación de mosquitos en Puerto Vallarta, las autoridades locales y organizaciones priorizan la implementación de medidas preventivas, que incluyen fumigaciones regulares y programas de control de mosquitos. Se aconseja a los visitantes utilizar ropa protectora, repelente de insectos y evitar áreas con alta actividad de mosquitos, como fuentes de agua estancada. Además, permanecer en interiores durante las horas pico puede ser efectivo.
Sin embargo, la experiencia puede variar según la época del año, hora del día y ubicación, siendo importante destacar que las picaduras de mosquitos pueden causar incomodidad y arruinar unas vacaciones agradables, especialmente en combinación con quemaduras solares. Las discusiones en foros como Tripadvisor indican preocupación por los mosquitos, sobre todo por el dengue como principal enfermedad transmitida. Los esfuerzos incluyen fogging, larvicidas, campañas de salud pública y participación comunitaria para reducir los criaderos de mosquitos.
Se recomienda aplicar repelente con DEET antes de salir, especialmente durante las mañanas y las tardes; así como eliminar el agua estancada en las propiedades. Usar ropa de manga larga y pantalones es aconsejable, y también se sugiere la búsqueda de repelentes naturales como velas de citronela o plantas aromáticas en el jardín. Para quienes pasan la mayor parte del tiempo cerca de la playa o en la ciudad, es vital evitar la orilla del agua al amanecer y al anochecer y no sentarse cerca de arbustos.
What Not To Eat In Mexico As A Tourist?
Travelers in Mexico should prioritize food safety by avoiding raw foods, including uncooked fruits, vegetables, fresh salads, salsas, and raw meats or seafood. Stick to foods that can be peeled or washed by you. Eating street food can be safe and is encouraged if precautions are taken, such as washing your hands before consuming. However, there are several foods and drinks to avoid: tap water and ice made from it, raw or undercooked seafood and meats, and anything that looks stale or has been sitting out for too long.
While enjoying Mexican cuisine, remember that it differs from Tex-Mex, which has evolved its unique identity over time. Mexican food is celebrated globally, and dismissing it can be seen as disrespectful.
Regarding etiquette, it's important to be punctual; dismissing the concept of "Mexico time" as an excuse for being late is not acceptable, just as it is globally. Drinking in public is generally frowned upon, and it’s wise to avoid drinking tap water or consuming food washed in it. Seafood, in particular, poses risks, especially at places without proper refrigeration.
In summary, indulge in the culinary delights of Mexico while being mindful of food safety: steer clear of raw items, adhere to hygiene practices, and respect local customs for a fulfilling experience. Enjoy your trip while keeping these essential precautions in mind!
What Bugs Should You Avoid In Mexico?
Fleas and ticks can transmit parasitic infections and febrile rash illnesses. In Mexico, particularly Cancun, while many insects are harmless, some, like the brown recluse, yellow sac, wolf, and black widow spiders, are dangerous. Cancun also hosts various insects, including mosquitoes, horseflies (tabanos), gnats (chakistes), Mexican water fleas, and African bees. To minimize risks, it's advisable to wear long-sleeved, light clothing. The most common bug bites include those from mosquitoes, which rarely need medical attention unless accompanied by severe symptoms like joint pain and fever.
It's essential to know preventative measures and treatment options for insect bites during your stay. Key precautions involve using insect repellent, especially containing DEET, and inhabiting spaces with screened windows. Notable mosquito-borne illnesses in Mexico include dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus. While mosquitoes are prevalent, particularly in outdoor settings, practicing cleanliness and avoiding insect bites through protective clothing and repellents can mitigate risks.
In urban and resort areas, pests are less common but still require caution, particularly when venturing into jungle environments. Overall, effective precautions will enhance your safety and enjoyment when visiting Cancun or other Mexican resorts. Familiarize yourself with potential diseases and seek appropriate vaccinations before traveling.
What Time Of Year Are Mosquitoes Most Active In Mexico?
Los mosquitos son más prevalentes en México entre abril y noviembre, incrementando su número durante la temporada de lluvias de junio a octubre. Las regiones subtropicales del sur, como Chiapas, Tabasco y Yucatán, experimentan una proliferación mayor de mosquitos que las áreas del norte. Las especies más comunes incluyen el Aedes aegypti, conocido por transmitir enfermedades como el dengue, el virus Zika y el chikungunya. En Playa del Carmen, la actividad de los mosquitos se intensifica en esta misma temporada, con un pico durante la temporada de lluvias que generalmente abarca de junio a octubre.
La situación de los mosquitos en Tulum varía según la época del año y las condiciones climáticas, pero en general, Tulum, situada en una región tropical, presenta un ambiente propicio para estos insectos. En general, la peor temporada de mosquitos en México se concentra entre mayo y julio, cuando hay mayor calor y humedad, lo cual favorece su reproducción. Durante las mañanas y las tardes, los mosquitos son especialmente activos, lo que puede afectar las actividades al aire libre, especialmente en áreas abiertas durante la noche.
En Cancún, la temporada de mosquitos coincide con la temporada de lluvias, que alcanza su punto máximo en mayo y se extiende hasta octubre. Aunque el mes de octubre es considerado especialmente problemático en Sonora, con informes de transmisión local de dengue y Zika. Las temporadas más secas, de diciembre a mediados de mayo, normalmente presentan menos problemas, ya que hay menos agua estancada, reduciendo así los sitios de reproducción. A pesar de que hay menos mosquitos durante estos meses, la presencia de Aedes aegypti y Aedes albopictus puede persistir durante todo el año.
Do I Need Bug Spray For Mexico?
Durante nuestro invierno seco y cálido (de diciembre a marzo), no hay mosquitos, pero al llegar la humedad, estos despiertan. Por esto, es recomendable comprar un buen repelente de mosquitos en tu país. Los aerosoles insecticidas de marcas conocidas están disponibles en México, pero contienen ingredientes tóxicos, por lo que deben utilizarse con moderación; lo mejor es optar por alternativas. 1. Usa repelente apropiado y ropa tratada con permethrin (botas, pantalones, calcetines y tiendas de campaña).
2. No apliques permethrin sobre la piel. Permanece y duerme en habitaciones con aire acondicionado o mallas protectoras. Usa mosquiteros si duermes al aire libre. 3. No es necesario un aerosol especial para México, aunque los locales son caros en comparación con los precios en el hogar (típicamente 2 o 3 veces más caros). Debido al riesgo de enfermedades, se recomienda el uso de repelente de insectos; el DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) es el mejor en áreas como Cancún.
En los resorts, probablemente estén fumigando. Lleva un buen repelente contigo para explorar y aplica el repelente después del protector solar. Algunas recomendaciones incluyen usar ropa de manga larga y pantalones, además de un sombrero. En general, debes asegurarte de tener repelente de mosquitos contigo siempre que salgas del hotel. Reaplica el repelente ocasionalmente y asegúrate de cubrir toda la piel expuesta, excepto si usas aire acondicionado. En resumen, sí, es esencial el repelente en Cancún debido a su clima tropical y la presencia de mosquitos.
Do I Need Bug Spray In Puerto Vallarta?
Si te diriges a Puerto Vallarta, asegúrate de empacar: protector solar biodegradable, repelente de insectos, trajes de baño, capas de playa, camisetas, blusas sin mangas, pantalones cortos, faldas, zapatos acuáticos, medicamentos, un kit de primeros auxilios, una bolsa impermeable para el día y una cartera con monedas. Si planeas disfrutar de la playa al amanecer o atardecer, es recomendable tener repelente a la mano. Aunque durante el día no es necesario, algunas personas pueden atraer más mosquitos que otras.
En nuestro primer viaje a Nuevo Vallarta, sufrimos por picaduras, a pesar de que el área de la piscina alrededor del Grand Mayan era relativamente libre de insectos, probablemente debido a que realizan fumigaciones. Planeamos viajar a PV la próxima semana y me pregunto si el repelente es necesario incluso durante el día sobre el protector solar, o si solo se necesita en el crepúsculo. He leído que ha incrementado la actividad de insectos y he usado repelente de manera consciente con éxito en el pasado.
El estilo de ropa ideal para Puerto Vallarta es casual y elegante: tejidos ligeros y transpirables como algodón, lino o sintéticos ligeros para mantenerse fresco. Empaca ropa cómoda para las actividades diurnas. En cuanto a los repelentes, es mejor llevar uno debido a su alto costo en las tiendas de regalos. Recuerda aplicar protector solar primero, dejarlo absorber y luego añadir el repelente, el cual necesitarás reaplicar. También se recomienda usar incensarios o rociadores disponibles en supermercados. Es sensato aplicar repelente en los tobillos y usar ropa de manga larga para prevenir picaduras, especialmente si vas a estar al aire libre temprano en la mañana o al atardecer, especialmente cerca de ríos.
Should I Be Worried About Mosquito Bites In Mexico?
Traveling to Mexico requires awareness of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. While mosquito bites are common, the actual risk of contracting a serious illness from a bite in Mexico is relatively low, estimated at about one in 300 for infected mosquitoes. Nonetheless, travelers should remain vigilant and monitor for any unusual symptoms following bites, which could indicate underlying infections, including joint pain, fever, or swollen glands.
Preventative measures are crucial, especially given the increasing threat of viruses like dengue fever, chikungunya, and West Nile virus in certain regions. It is essential to take steps to reduce the likelihood of bites, particularly during the daytime when mosquitoes are more active. While most bites result in mild discomfort characterized by a red, itchy bump, pregnant women should be particularly cautious due to the potential risks of Zika virus leading to birth defects.
While diseases like malaria are rare in Mexico, the ongoing threat of mosquito-borne illnesses calls for prudent planning and protective measures such as using insect repellent and wearing appropriate clothing. Although illness from a mosquito bite is uncommon, travelers should stay informed about their health risks and understand that not all diseases can be prevented by vaccines or medications.
Ultimately, with proper precautions and an understanding of local conditions, visiting Mexico can be safe and enjoyable, even during peak mosquito seasons. Awareness and preparedness are key to minimizing risk while traveling in mosquito-prone areas.
Does Puerto Vallarta Have Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are indeed present in Puerto Vallarta (PV), similar to many places including various hotels elsewhere. While experiencing bites, especially on your legs, may signal their presence, it’s important to consider that jejenes, also known as "no-see-ums" or sand fleas, are often the culprits. Although bed bugs are a possibility, they are not the sole concern. Many travelers have reported not encountering bed bugs in certain locations, such as the Krystal hotel, yet have faced issues with larger ants that can bite.
Observation is key when checking for bed bugs; look for signs like dead bugs in mattress seams or between the mattress and box spring. It’s suggested to report any bites to hotel management and show them photos if you suspect bed bugs. Recently, a dengue fever outbreak has also been confirmed in PV, adding to public health concerns.
Travelers are encouraged to check airbnb properties or hotels upon arrival by turning off lights and examining the beds closely. Although February typically marks the dry season with fewer insects, bed bugs remain a risk even in high-end accommodations, as previous guests have shared their alarming experiences with infestations. Reports of severe bed bug bites, along with claims of vacations ruined by these pests, emphasize the importance of vigilance. Returning visitors have also noted ongoing health-related issues, such as Norovirus outbreaks at particular hotels.
How Do You Check For Bed Bugs In A Resort?
To check for bed bugs in a hotel room, begin by pulling back the bed sheets and blankets to inspect the mattress and box spring seams, particularly at the head of the bed. Bed bugs, including adults, nymphs, and eggs, are visible to the naked eye. Look for exoskeletons, which are the casings left behind after molting, and dark rust-colored spots that indicate their presence. Notably, squashed bed bugs leave red-brown stains on bedding. Check for tiny white eggs or light yellow casings as additional signs of infestation.
Utilize a flashlight and a plastic card to inspect cracks and crevices around the bed, including the ceiling and wall texture, mattress seams, and upholstered furniture. Begin your inspection at the headboard to look for bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and black stains. It’s crucial to thoroughly examine the folds and seams at the corners of the mattress.
If you find any signs of bed bugs, document your findings with photos and videos and promptly notify hotel staff, who should provide you with an alternative room or issue a refund if necessary.
When making hotel reservations, do some background research on potential bed bug sightings. If the hotel has reports of bed bugs, check the date of the latest issues, as the problem may have been resolved. Review platforms like TripAdvisor can also provide insights.
For a comprehensive inspection, remove all sheets and pillows and scrutinize the mattress for evidence such as brown spots (feces), shed skins, and the bugs themselves. Pay special attention to the bed frame, headboard, and box spring, exploring all crevices and folds. Reporting any signs of bed bugs to hotel management is essential for ensuring a safe lodging experience.
📹 Why Mosquitoes Bite Some People More Than Others
Some things we know make mosquitoes more attracted to you: Exercising, higher metabolism, higher body temperature, more …
I hate mosquitoes with a passion. I can’t go outside for 5 minutes without being bitten. As an example, my dad and sister were outside for an hour working on gutter cleaning. Neither were bitten. I stepped outside for 5 minutes (not exaggerating)… 4 or 5 bites. Example two, my brother and I were outside standing in place next to each other for 15 minutes. In that time, I was bitten exactly 9 times and my brother only once.
The ultimate non toxic mosquito repellant is cloves mixed in ordinary cooking oil. Olive or rapeseed oil. Mix the powdered cloves in oil, let stand for a few days, filter the clove powder out, and apply the oil. Tested and proven in Finnish midsummer with a lot of bloodthisrty mosquitoes. One got as close as one inch from my arm when it got the scent and braked and got away.
The thing that really gets me about mosquitos is when you’re trying to sleep and they are flying around your ears making that buzzing sound. Anyone else really despise this sound? It’s worse than nails on a chalkboard for me as it is usually accompanied by a bite to add insult to injury. You’re always just waiting, mortified and annoyed by the occasional buzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Years ago, I took my family and my brothers family on a camping trip to Fire Island one summer. Out of 8 of us all but my 2nd son Calvin was eaten alive by mosquitos. Calvin had 2 bite marks at the end of the trip while the rest of us was covered in bite marks. We all ate the same food used the same soaps same gene pool. We still talk about how weird that was when we get together in the summer time.
My mom and I are completely ignored by mosquitoes and we both have chronic illnesses that mess with our body regulation in various ways, including making us barely sweat at all and have cold skin. We always thought that was why we never get bitten even when my dad and sister are attacked, so the scientist making note to rub your hands together to stimulate warmth/oils on your skin really stood out to me
So… this still doesn’t answer my gigantic mystery: As a kid, I would get literally hundreds of bites every summer. I was the most mosquito-attractive person I knew by a margin.Yet at one point, just in a year or two, very likely around puberty, I suddenly stopped being attractive and since then have consistently gotten maybe 1-2 dozen bites the entire summer. How can someone’s mosquito-attractiveness change like that?!
I’ve noticed that I am far less attractive to mosquitoes than my neighbor. When we talk at the fence near dusk he will often complain about being bit and excuse himself to go inside. Meanwhile I would maybe have been bitten only once or twice. Once he’s gone however I seem to become the center of mosquitoe attention. It happens with consistency and I’ve been aware of this for a couple years.
During rough years dealing with PTSD I was once at a gathering in a garden, and constantly 3-5 mosquitos were landing on my face, while I was speaking. That had never happened before. And it was only happening to me. Then I had two bites of the chocolate cake in front of me, and they flew away and nothing bit me for the rest of the evening. I read somewhere that people take high vitamin B for a month or so before going to places where Malaria is a problem. Apparently your body can make something that makes your blood less easy to use for mosquitoes or something. So i concluded during stress I might have a higher need for vitamin B and magensium, and supplemented. That year I had not one single mosquito bite and no tick bites at all, although I stayed outside a lot and others got bitten. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to reproduce the chocolate cake effect. I also don’t have the recipe of the cake I ate at that gathering.
I never thought I’d dislike being so attractive lol. This is my biggest problem why I hate rainy season. My family would get bitten sure, but I’m the one who always ends up having 10 or more bites in just one night. It’s frustratingly itchy and I don’t like how my rashes turn super duper red and big too and would take time to heal. I would have to rub repellent over my body and has the aroma diffuser going on with citronella or peppermint or whatever mentholly smell for added protection. There was a time I even used menthol ointment as a lotion literally because they won’t just leave me alone.
My mom told me that the amount of sugar in your blood was what attracted mosquitoes. I got bit like crazy by them as a kid, especially, and the reactions I had were intense. Huge hard red swellings. One on my shin I scratched so much with the heel of my shoe during PE that at some point it became grossly infected. I saved it for a day when I really really wanted to stay home from school….and when I showed it to my mom and my big brother, they were appalled. It had turned green at the center, where the scab started originally, and dark red all around it. I decided it was ripe and crossed my fingers and hoped it would work so I could stay home and watch some classic musicals I was anxious to watch (back then you had to plan these things after looking through the TV guides to see what movies you were dying to see would be televised). Well, I f*cked up and had to go to emergency. But I got a whole week off from school.
If any researchers are out there, I have NEVER met another person who gets bit by mosquitoes more than me. I just can’t go outside after 5pm. I’ll go out to clean the pool skimmers and get 5 bites while my husband will go for a long walk and get nothing. My brother-in-law was always the one who was most bit in his family (my husbands), but he loves to joke that he likes when I’m around because I take the bites instead of him. And my bites turn into little swollen blobs that itch like crazy for days. I would LOVE to be tested. If it’s important, I live in North Alabama, USA.
I’m in awe actually at how dedicated this guy is to his studies of them just sticking his arm in the box to feed them. I’ve always had horrible reactions to mosquito bites they swell up to like 4 times bigger than most peoples and can sometimes be so bad (especially on an area likemy hand or fingers) that the appendage is practically unusable, I’m pretty sure if I stuck my arm in one of those boxes I would have to amputate it
This past Father’s Day I was with my daughters family. All three of them were getting bit and had major reactions and swelling. I on the other hand didn’t have a single mosquito buzz my area or bite me. I didn’t even know mosquitoes were out, while they were swatting and shooing them away. Call me blessed.
I heard the story about blood sugar. I’m more interested if that has anything to do with blood types. I rarely get bitten, but I also dress head-to-toe in the wilderness because I hate getting bitten. If there was a specific gene instead associated with lower bite rates it would be most interesting if it can be somehow shared with more bite-prone people to override theirs. Then again, mosquitoes would probably just adapt to that, little death machines that they are.
My heritage is from the mosquito infested swamps of South Louisiana (Cajun French). Mosquitoes practically never bite me. My wife’s heritage is from the mosquito infested Brazilian Amazon and she also practically never gets bitten. We had a daughter together who is now 5 years old and has literally never been bitten by a mosquito in her life. I’m pretty sure we created a super human.
The genetic factor is mildly interesting. But I can’t do anything about that. I’m much more interested in what changes a person can actually make to make themselves less attractive to mosquitos? Losing weight and obsessively scrubbing down before hikes are the only ones I managed to glean from what was said.
As someone whose job is to find and control mosquitoes I always appreciate seeing more, easily accessible information for the public. Before I started this job I had no idea just how impactful they were. It averages out to be about 1500 people per day dying due to mosquito borne diseases. Most of them are actually terrifying and definitely suggest people look into them. My personal favorites are Dengue and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), but there are so many and they are all super interesting.
I am not sure how attractive I am to mosquitoes, because my body doesn’t react to mosquito bites. I used to think mosquitoes didn’t bite me at all, until I saw one bite my ankle and I never got a bump or was itchy where I was bitten. I am glad that I don’t feel bug bites but the only thing that worries me about it is possibly getting sick from a bug bite and not knowing where the infection came from, or getting misdiagnosed.
I’ve always been a magnet. I could not go out in the evening with bare ankles or wrist and repellent. Since discovering I have a histamine intolerance I’ve hardly had any bites this year. My diet has changed significantly and I’m taking anti-histamine and pro-biotics daily. The difference is incredible and I was not expecting it. I’ve been bitten maybe ten times this year but would normally be bitten 10 times a day. Purely anecdotal of course, but a striking difference.
I finally have my answer. My Grandmother used to say that mosquitoes are attracted to me because my blood is sweet. 🤣 Just a thing she used to say. But I always wondered why in a room full of 15 people, my arms and legs always ended up with mosquito bites that looked like potatoes. Thank you for this article.
I swear I’ve noticed that women usually get bit more than men. I always get bitten but the guys around me don’t (and I’ve noticed a similar trend with my other female friends) and it’s made me wonder if maybe our blood tastes different to them due to hormones (especially during certain parts of our cycle). Idk it’s just a theory, but it seems to ring true to me.
I read an article last year that said most of the welt from mosquito bites comes from dirt and germs we force into them when scratching, and not from the mosquito itself. Since then I’ve been using a tiny dab of antibacterial liquid soap on and around the bite site, instead of insect bite creams… it does seem to work! I now get tiny non-itchy welts which heal rapidly instead of the large raw red ones that can last for many days.
It would seem from my experience mosquitos are different and attracted to different people depending on where you are. In America I get bitten regularly but while in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia they never touched me. Also when I went on my honeymoon in Jamaica while lying by the pool my wife was attacked massively and they didn’t come near me. She has to escape to our room.
I did 15 years in the navy and had to do a couple tours in Afghanistan. While prepping for tour I was instructed to take these pills once a day everyday for a year to keep from contracting malaria if bitten by a mosquito known as doxycycline. What I found out about malaria was it was mostly common I. Northern Africa. I also found out that most of the people who live in Northern Africa who either have sickle cell anemia, or the trait developed this as an evolutionary defense mechanism to the microbe carried by the mosquito that’s known to cause malaria. So basically, if you have sickle cell, your blood cell shape is not round like healthy cells and instead take on the shape of a sickle, a cutting tool shaped like a crescent moon. Because the blood cell is shaped like a sickle, it isn’t as strong and takes up less surface area compared to a normal healthy blood cell and it also dies off quickly compared to round blood cells as well. The malaria virus when contracted, has a very difficult time entering and reproducing more copies of itself in sickle shaped blood cells due to the lack of rigidity and weakness of the sickled cell thereby making it damn near impossible to be infected by it. I also learned that the hiv virus has a hard time reproducing in sickled blood cells for the same reason thus making a person with sickle cell less likely( but impossible ) to contract certain viral diseases.
When I was a kid I used to live somewhere where there was A LOT of mosquitoes and I’d always get bitten way more than my cousins or anyone else, and I’d always get massive spots from the bites and they’d itch like crazy 🙁 It’d be really nice to find out if I have those weird genetics and if I have some sort of allergy going on lol
I remember years ago I used to get eaten up by mosquitoes quite a bit. Knowing that it also knowing that I was getting ready to go into a foray into South Africa and mercenary friend of mine told me to prep for at least a week and a half or so by taking vitamin B2 and continuing to take it while I was there. It work wonders I remember still getting bit by mosquitoes but very rarely. I quickly found out that just a good b50 complex vitamin work just as well and have never had that issue since.
I can definitely concur that human odor seems to play a role. Through experience, the odor I give off is vastly different than that of my significant other and mosquitos are basically attracted to me like a magnet whereas my wife doesn’t appear to suffer. This has led to interesting interactions between me and her family when I visit their home and I get bitten alive but they appear to be unaffected with windows open and unscreened. Does this affect my desire to visit?
Interesting, one thing I noticed over the years and have watched a mosquito bite me, is that my body’s reaction to the bite is less inflamed and doesn’t irritate me unlike my wife who will scratch herself to bits! People often say mosquitoes don’t like them but half the time they’ve been bit but don’t react in a way for them to realise.
Derek: “Do you think people evolved to become less attractive to mosquitos, or do you think this is something that just happened by accident?” These are functionally the same statement! Evolution is largely an ‘accidental’ process that takes advantage of luck to advance traits that are better for your survival.
Attractiveness to mosquitoes changes through life. In the summer of 1968, when I was 17 years old, I went with my parents to Alaska and got bitten through my jeans and flannel shirt, in spite of spraying them with mosquito repellent. In 2006, when I was 55, my wife, who was 43, and I went to Crater Lake, where she spray her clothes with repellent and was was bitten through 2 pairs of tights and a flannel shirt, while I wore walking shorts and t-shirts and hardly bothered with spray, but collected only a few.
For the evolution, I expected you’d say that human immune system may have evolved towards not attracting the mosquitoes once they got the malaria, but the point that surprised you was that mosquitoes evolved to make people more attractive with malaria. And you gave the credits to the evolution at the end 😊 it’s more surprising that we didn’t evolve to dissuade mosquitoes, which leads me towards this amazing ayah from Qur’an: “Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs.” Qasas, 68
This confirms something I’ve suspected for a long time. But I didn’t want to “look a gift horse in the mouth” because I’m one of those who doesn’t get bitten often- unlike my less fortunate brother. We share a house with a fairly large back yard (large for the suburbs, anyway). My bro has spent hundreds on fancy outdoor electronic traps, and I’ve wondered why he goes to such lengths- I would never spend that much money on something like that, but now I understand. He’s always complained about our `skeeters’ (as I call them), and I always thought he was just being silly about this, but I also sort of suspected that there was something about some people that just made them more attractive to those little fuckers.
When I was in Girl Scouts, we went to camp and I was the mosquito magnet. I had so many bites I actually got sick. My sister and her friends counted the ones on my face …just my face and I had them all over…and I had 106 just on my face. I was so happy having moved from NY to Utah so I got no bites ..maybe two in 24 years there. My husband none! In Colorado ..I’ve been bitten a few times but my husband zero times!
I have thalassemia trait, and i barely ever get bitten by mosquitoes. And when i do, i dont get bitten again for a long time. I remember going to Venezuela, and we camped outside, we were sleeping in a tent, but my dad (who doesn’t have thalassemia trait) decided he wanted to sleep outside in the hammock. Next morning you couldn’t even see his arm, he was COVERED in bites.
I’m type 1 diabetic and have high blood sugars. I get bitten all the time to the point I refuse to be outside after dark in the summer. I always thought it was because of my “sweet” blood (I’m just walking dessert to them). None of my other family members have as bad of an issue as me. I always though mosquitoes just had a preference to blood type 🤷🏼♀️
I asked this question from a friend of mine who was an entomologist and he told me that this is a fallacy and that it is not that some people are bitten more it is just that some people feel it more. Some people just have worse reactions to the mosquito bite. Maybe he was wrong but it seemed like a very good answer.
The answer to your question “did humans evolve the trait to smell worse to mosquitos … or is it just by accident?” is “yes”. The theory of evolution states that all features in living organisms are acquired by a series of happy accidents that increase an organism’s survivability. The only other option is to believe that these changes were not accidents, but were purposeful, but that would imply the existence of an intelligence that has a purpose for an organism and the means to create or change the organism to conform to that purpose.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but at the end when he asked “Do you think humans evolved this trait to be less attractive to mosquitos to survive? Or is it just an accident?” Isn’t it just about the same thing? The mutation that caused humans to be less attractive to mosquitos would have been an accident, but it would have aided survival and therefore been passed on more often.
10:13 Isn’t evolution basically guided accidents? Guided by survival requirements I mean. I’m a little confused whenever evolution is given an intentional characteristic. Not everything successfully evolves to circumvent a catastrophic event. But the ones that do, really do so because of dumb luck. Am I misunderstanding something here?
I have never been bitten by a mosquito… I’d go on a walk with my friend and she’d be covered in bites and me- nothing. I was so confused I went as far to TRY to get bitten but when it landed on me- nothing. Obviously I’m grateful but I’d love to this test because I think I’m the extreme opposite of this guy.
When I was younger I always seemed to be bit a lot more than others. My record was something like 24 mosquito bites on my body at once, this may be minor to some people tho. But now that I’m older I don’t get many mosquito bites anymore. This makes me wonder how age changes the attractiveness to mosquitos, or I just don’t leave the house much anymore which probably does play some roll lol.
I show a study about mosquitoes attractive and they said it was the amount of carbon dioxide the body give off that attracts mosquitoes. The more carbon dioxide or heat the body give off, the more attractive to the mosquito. So who is right? I am a mosquito attraction because my body give off a lot of heat than average people but my family members are much cooler than me and get less bite than me when we sit around a camp fire. I also find out that fresh perfume or any soap or man make sense attract mosquitoes too.
Do you know if other insects are also attracted to carbon dioxide? I hike a lot and have noticed an annoying tendency for bugs to want to fly specifically into my mouth or nose when it is least convenient, whenever I am shortest of breath, and I’ve been feeling like they are maybe specifically attracted to my exhaled air. I had been thinking maybe they are attracted to hot air for some reason, but carbon dioxide might make a better explanation.
I am legitimately a slice of deliciousness to mosquitos, especially my legs. But the mosquitos aren’t picky, they’ll bite me anywhere. I had always heard that my blood type had something to do with it. But I also know that my genetics are highly susceptible to mosquitos. I have a heavily German/Scandinavian heritage, so basically red face and very sweaty. And I know that mosquitos love heat and other chemicals that are released during sweat. I have literally tried every known mosquito repellent known to man. Sprays, creams, candles, electromagnetic pulse shockers, treated clothing, nothing works. Which sucks because I love to play disc golf, especially during the summer. So unless I were to dress in a beekeepers outfit, then I truly can’t help the fact that my legs look like the surface of Mars by the end of every summer. It’s not pretty. It sure would be nice if they could invent something for me that helped. 🙄
This so true. For example, when I visited my brother I told him the 🦟 mosquitos here are eating me alive. His response was, “We don’t even have mosquitos here.” I explained I was a magnet 🧲 for them, still he doubted me. The next day I showed him that my legs and feet looked close to when I had the chickenpox as a child. His reply, “Well they don’t bother us.”
When I was younger I learned that when they design deodorants and perfumes, they test them on mosquitos, as mosquitos are attracted to pheromones. I’m just curious if this variable was considered in these studies? Maybe this genetic sequence has something to do with our bodies’ pheromones? Or simply the soaps and perfumes we use?
Something to think about: I had “Dengue fever” (a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus) 20 years a go in Thailand. I was extremely susceptible to mosquitoes B4 then. After contracting the “dengue virus” I was not bitten after that for 15 years. For the past 5 years I’ve been mosquito bait again.
here at Finland we have few mosquitos (quite bit of land mass is either swamp or lake). If i am alone at forest they are all over me, but when with group of people there is almost none.. go scout camp with few others and problems solved (17k others does help) PS: yeah we keep scout camps at forest, it’s simply lot nicer that way… pointing you the Germans and your farm field camping…
worst experience was when i visited the Baltic Sea once in august and after just one evening i looked like i was suffering the final stages of the bubonic plague. it was so awful i didn’t sleep for three days straight because of the itch and pain. as we were sitting outside near the beach i was swarmed by those pesty mosquitoes- i had on a pair of jeans and long sleeves because i knew it and i witnessed the suckers stinging through the jeans and sleeves …and those weren’t gigantic but small malicious black nightmares. this year i was already stung 11 times when i visited a friends garden at noon! when i think of this menace i’m so happy living downtown otherwise summertime would be insufferable every year 😢
So why don’t they make a repellent out of the chemicals that mosquitos don’t like? Is it the Asian gene or the European gene that makes one more attractive to the pesky pests? Can changing ones diet change mosquito likes-dislikes? ‘Cause some foods and spices change the aroma which is given off by a human.
They’re heat seeking. The higher the body temperature is the more attractive you become to mosquitos. A vegeratrian with high body temp also gets bitten more often than others with lower body temps which drew me to believe it has little to do with diet. My buddy and I went to Taiwan where I always got bitten a lot more than he did. We both eat a lot of meat daily, had the same food there; but he’s got an average body temp of a normal adult man at 97’f, while I average 98.6. I’ve done this comparison several times with the same result.
I’d like to see these tests done again today. I remember perusal this way back when and I’ve always been the one to never get bit and stuff. Here in the last year or so I’ve noticed that not be the case anymore, and I’m curious to how much the mosquitos have adapted in recent years, because not just that but now swatting to kill one feels like trying to swat a fly 😅. Like these things have definitely gotten faster and changing a lot it seems.
The Quran discibes the following scientific proofs. 21:30 – The big bang 41:11 – Stars came before planets, and planets emerged from stars 21:30 – Life comes from Water 31:29 – Obit of the Sun and Moon, the sun’s 200 million year orbit around the milky way was only discovered in the last few decades 23:12-14 – Accurate discription of fetus in the womb 15:22 – Fecondating Winds, it wasn’t known wind could fecondate until recently 78:7 – Mountain as Pegs to stabalise the crust, this was discovered recently as mountains don’t just rise up but they discend into the earth stabalizing the tectonic plates and helping prevent them from shifting This is the tip of the ice berge. In fact the Quran accurately discribes all web building spiders as females, depicts ants as being able to comunicate (which they do with pheramones) and even discribes sub-atomic particles. This universe isn’t random, life isn’t random and the Quran isn’t created by chance.
You guys are the cutest! I was wondering if it made a difference because when you did the experiment alone and then did it again with Raquel, is it possible the mosquitoes were familiar to your scent from the first experiment making them seek you quickly again for the second experiment. But then he said you would switch sides and repeat several times. 🙂 All of that DNA information was so intriguing. Thanks for making learning enjoyable. 😁
make sure you get the real bite away pen, heats up kills the mossie protein in the saliva, those bootlegs ones are crap dont get hot enough, if you want to see how the heat works, heat up a cup of water as if you are going to make tea, put in a spoon till hot, press back of spoon on your bite repeat till itch is gone. you may have redness from the hot spoon but MY GOSH it works so well.. I am allergic to mosquito bites so the heat up method works for me big time
I’m allergic to mosquitoes, and I’m very attractive to them. I don’t know for sure but I’m guessing it would take say? twenty five plus bites for them to make me ill. and the bites not only itch really bad. but I experience a lot of swelling at the bite sites. and it can be somewhat painful after the swelling starts. I remember once when I was young I got bit near my eyes. and the swelling was so bad that I couldn’t open my eyes for several days.
Me and my parents all have problems with mosquitos. We actually had to get those sonic repellants all around our house so they wouldn’t devour us while we sat at our computers. And we still need Bite Away to deal with the few that endure it. That’s in our house, BTW. Not even outside, though we have to be careful whenever we do stand on any porch or in any patch of grass.
The worst thing about mosquitoes is when they flood into your car when you get home at night and all you hear is hundreds of tiny wings and as they feed on you on your drive home you try to swat them off the ceiling of your car and then seeing them splatter, successfully painting your car with your Own blood. I hate living in the south.
Toxoplasma gondii works a similar way to plasmodium, in that it changes brain chemistry of infected organisms (eg. rats), especially in the amygdala (that controls fear) and the limbic system (sexual arousal) which causes their fear of cats to disappear and make them sexually aroused to the smell of cat fur, and cause them to confront the cats and get eaten, thus returning the Toxoplasma back to its natural vector that’ll spread the organism further.
As a Derrickman on the rigs working in the La. bayous especially durring the summer I would go through 1+ cans of mosquito repellent in my 12hr shift up in the derrick. The toolpusher introduced me to distilled vinegar which I was required to consume in salads or anything else to mask the taste and repel the mosquitoes. They’re unable to detect the sugar because of the vinegar released from my skin pores. The more I sweat the better it worked. At night when the derrick lights were bright mosquitoes were attracted to it much like that commercial.
“Do you think we evolved to be less attractive to mosquitos or is it an accident?” Evolution IS an accident! Seriously though, it would be interesting to see how people that have ancestral roots in a malaria zone (like central American natives) compare to those that have shallow roots in a malaria zone (like European Africans) and to people with no real roots in such areas (like the Irish).
It’s like perusal a documentary about the bloodsucking imperialists. They killed half the population on earth, some with diseases and some a “little bit” differently, it definitely has to do with the DNA of their ancestors, they are thirsty for blood, and they bite more those who have more stinking oil in their system. Bloody hell !
I find it pretty fascinating that mosquitto incident viruses or bakteria are such a great topic in western countries. In Germany doctors also warn from malaria in tropical countries as if would be the end of life, after living like half a year in tropical countries I can say where people are affected its not, simply take some medicin for 5 days and youre fine. No comparision to dozend of millions killed by year from cancer or high blood preasure.
My mother used to get bitten alot. But, not when she got older. Now, she has lipodema and Chronic Veinous Insufficiency which caused permanent bruise-like stains on her lower legs. She thinks that makes her blood taste nasty. If I leave my bites alone, they stay red and lasts a few days. But, usually I accidentally scratch at them before I know what they are. Then, the “injection site” get large, ireegular in shape, and turns white. The area around it turns purple (like an umbra or areola) and is nearly two inches in diameter. It itches so insanely that not even calamine lotion can work to relieve. In my opinion, I’m kinda allergic to the bites, which gets exacerbated when scratched. Then, it would last more than a week. Years ago, a co-worker suggested hand sanitizer. It worked within seconds and lasts for up to an hour. It is a miracle itch relief. Bless her and her mothering instincts! It still lasts a long time and itches insanely, but at least I have temporary relief. -The numbers are approximate to my memory of DNA test, but I am say … 48% northwestern Europe (Scandenavian/ScotIrish), 47% southeaster Europe (Mediterranean), and 5$ Finnish (northwest Europe, but somehow distinctive and separate, I guess). And I’m finished.
Mosquitoes LOVE me. If there is one in the house, it will find me. If I briefly go outside to say bring in a bin in the evening and I am not completely covered I will get bitten, especially if I stop moving for a few seconds. I check the bedroom walls and ceiling for them (esp. in summer) and get rid of them, but they still get me. Not long after we are in bed and the lights are off, I can start to hear them approach and they will try and bite my head. They regularly bite me through my clothing! Thinner material like a light t-shirt is no barrier. They bite my feet through my socks. I can’t go camping or be outside of an evening unless I am totally covered in repellent. Even then, if I miss a spot, I have been bitten anyway. I have often sat with a group of people where no one is getting bothered/bitten except me. And i come up in really big flat white welts that itch like crazy. They f%$@ing LOVE me. Drives me crazy in the summer…
I live in the US for 50 years. Every time I visited my birth country (Taiwan) I’m the only one in our family that get bitten! (2 siblings one older one younger) So bad had go to the hospital. Ten years ago I took my own family back. My daughter gotten bitten so badly we took her to hospital twice. My other child was fine( a boy) Can you explain that?
My fathers partner is into oldschool medicine and the like and she went down to a swamp in Sweden to get stung like crazy by mosquitos a long time ago. Now she barely gets stung and when she does she doesnt get a “bite”. And Where i come from in Sweden there are an insane amount of mosquitos and i used to get stung like crazy, now i get hit the least in the group and i barely get an itch at all if even a mark, even when i sometimes hit one full of blood. And the part about fast metabolism make sense. For some reason i have a lot of friends with ADHD and a fast metabolism and they tend to have a lot more mosquitos attacking them. I boiled it down to them getting more agitated thus releasing more attracting odours though.
My gawd! What awful news for me. I am like a huge dessert cart going by just waiting for the taking!!!! They just see me and they attack me ! Just this summer alone I have been bitten ravaged and turned into raw meat from them, I have been bitten no less than 75 times. My left arm is literally a huge swollen bloody mess. AND THEN……..once the venom really gets into my system, after I’ve scratched and scratched and scratched they scab up and then soon later they start BURNING!!! And after I’ve tried to,treat them with camomile and Callomine lotion,,,,, then they start itching all over again!! And the whole process starts all over again!! So it’s months before they finally heal up….But in the meantime I’ve been bitten up at least another 20 times,,,,and so while I’m trying to deal with the last 40 that I had gotten before,,,,,, now a whole new batch starts up,,,,,and this is the was life is AAAAAAALLLLL spring and summer long. Ughghgh, it’s so awful. It’s one of the reasons why I HATE the spring and summer. I wish I new of something that was around 95-100% mosquito repellent…or some how change my DNA 🧬 to make me gross and disgusting to them! Ughghgh who knew that our DNA determines weather or not we are a attractant or and deterrent to those awful horrible terrible vile disgusting little devil bi*ches!!!!!
The first thing I suspected is that natural selection might play a role, but the Dr at the end seemed almost surprised by this question or uses that response as an affect to accentuate the whole purpose. So, either he’s soooo tunneled into the research that he can no longer see the forest through the trees or the question is the primary reason for his research (which would be used for commercial chemical repellents) and he really really wants to answer that but can’t…yet.