What is a mosiquto bite???!
Question:
What is a mosiquto bite???
I play softball and I always seem to get mosiquto bites. What are they and how do you get them? Does the mosiquto actuallly bite you? Any why do they itch? What is the best kind of bug spray? And what should you do to help them heal faster?
Sorry thats a lot of questions but please answers as many as possible... Thanks
Answers:
The mosquito isn't actually "biting" you, it is "poking" you. It sticks its' proboscis (long thin "nose" ) into your skin (like a doctor poking a needle into you). While the mosquito is sitting on you, with its "needle" stuck in you, it is feeding by sucking your blood. If your skin gets cut or broken, anti-coagulants in your system will rush to that damaged skin site and start to slow the flow of blood, thus forming a scab. Since the mosquito needs your blood flowing freely, it "injects a chemical" into that bite area, to prevent your blood from clotting while it is feeding.
After it is done feeding and pulls it proboscis out, the wound will start to heal and that's when you feel the itch. The itch is because of those residual chemicals left behind.
The best kind of bug spray is anything with DEET in it. Try a brand like Deep Woods Off or Cutters. The DEET will prevent them from biting, the higher the concentration of DEET in the product, the better effectiveness of the spray (or lotion, or gel stick...).
To help dull the itch, use any cream or spray that has cortisone as an ingredient. It will not make it stop itching, but it may just make the bite itch less. Try not to scratch it, as soon as the mosquito pulls out, your body starts to heal, if you scratch, you re-damage the area and it will take longer to heal. (Very simplified explanation!)