Study offers clues into when and why mosquitoes bite

I spend most of my time in the western US, and the mosquitos there never bother me, but they do go after my wife and one of my two sons. Aside from being ravaged by a swarm of mosquitos in a Florida phone booth 40 years ago, I never had a problem. That is, until earlier this year when I spent two months in Hawaii. The mosquitos there were relentless and I always had itching bites no matter what brand of repellent, or how much I used.

This article mentions an observed preference to certain people by mosquitos, but it doesn't go into why. It seems to leave out geographical considerations, which I know from experience, are real.

I hiked in the Wind River Range (Wyoming) in July and there were massive swarms of mosquitoes. They'd hang around and generally be annoying but I don't think a single one bit me; we were quite bemused. At home in Australia, one mosquito will absolutely bite and create a far greater annoyance.

A lot of people don’t realize just how many mosquito (and closely related) species there are, and how few actually go after humans/mammals. Most just go after birds or reptiles/amphibians exclusively.

In the ag fields where I work in the Willamette valley of Oregon, most of what I actually come across during the day are non-biting midges that look like mosquitos. Coming across actual mosquitos during the day is a rare thing because whatever species we have here tend be out during very short seasons or only when it get’s dark. Far different from Michigan or Minnesota imo.

Mind you, you can absolutely find mosquitos if you go out looking for them in the woods.

The very low amount of biting mosquitos that I noticed is actually my big reason for having originally moved here, since bites for me tend to be dime-quarter sized and intensely itch for 2-4 weeks, avoiding mosquitos is a high priority. I’ve yet to find any chemical that adequately deals with the itching, and while heat based solutions like hot water or thermal sticks work they are still only temporary.

Unfortunately, the pollen levels here are a special hell of its own. If you aren’t allergic, you will be. I use a PAPR respirator when out in the early summer during grass pollination.

I know the Willamette area well. Most people don't realize how quickly pollen levels drop off as you move out of the valley into the Coast or Cascade ranges. It might be worthwhile to relocate a few miles into the hills, and just commute into town when needed.

As for mosquito bites, have you tried hydrogen peroxide? It's supposed to neutralize the protein in the mosquito saliva. I haven't had occasion to test it myself.