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June 27, 2005
Suckers
Trip #2 to Miami. Not only did we stumble upon the last carrot and an unusually large box of tic tacs, but we managed to meander into the most happening mosquito spot in the western world.
We had a few hours to spend prior to my plane taking off and, considering that we had spent a very relaxing Saturday by the pool and eating all things wine, cheese, and chocolate, Lex and I decided to take a short walk in Coconut Grove. Lex wanted to visit a state park called The Barnacle, which should have been named The Itchy Place, or at the very least had a sign at the entrance that read Warning: One more step and 80 million hungry mosquitoes will chew you to bone. Which is exactly what occurred when we stepped inside the canopy of tropical trees.
Within three seconds of observing a giant yellow lizard, we found ourselves flailing our arms wildly, slapping one another, and making a bee line for the sidewalk, whereupon we spent the next ten minutes killing the lingering bloodsuckers and cleaning their smeared, lifeless bodies from our skin. Moments later, we were covered in giant, itchy lumps. In fact, I am still finding mosquito bites on my body this morning, and it has been nearly twenty-four hours since the incident.
How do they choose their prey? Can they smell you? Do they only bite tourists in Florida? If not�holy crap, why would anyone ever live there?
Posted by callalillie at June 27, 2005 6:53 AM | The World Outside NYC
Mosquitoes do inhabit New York, it's true. The only time I remember an attack comparable to yours was on a camping trip upstate. It rained for a few hours and when the storm was over the swarm appeared. They resembled mini-helicopters, super-sized and ravenous. Suffice to say, my limbs were quite distorted, the appearance of two knees on one leg was disturbing. Lo and behold, I was even able to visualize my spiritual third eye as it bulged from my forehead. They are welcome to their territory. Bring on the DEET.
For some reason I did not receive one insect bite when I spent a month in Africa. I was more concerned about the crocodiles there. Go figure.
Posted by: Vickie at June 27, 2005 7:42 AM
I can only assume that the mosquitos smelled the wine, cheese and chocolate. Perhaps consuming onions, sauerkraut and dirty gym socks might make you less tantalizing on your next journey.
Posted by: kathy at June 27, 2005 8:49 AM
Posted by: yp at June 27, 2005 9:32 AM
Skeeters are attracted to the carbon dioxide we mammals spew--at least that's what brings their attention to our blood-filled deliciousness.
Posted by: Will at June 27, 2005 9:36 AM
Oh god. That article makes me itch.
So does that mean that some people expell more CO2 than others? Should I just stop aspirating?
Posted by: corie at June 27, 2005 9:50 AM
last week, i got about 5 bug bites in a 2" radius on my back. i wonder if it was one bug sucking until it died or of it was a pack of the bastards.
Posted by: tien at June 27, 2005 9:51 AM
Mosquitos are just one of the many loathsome 'pleasures' of Florida. They are bad enough to make you glad to see small planes dropping petro-chemical neurotoxins over your house just so you can get some peace. Of course, there are the no-see-ums, which are very tiny but have a very nasty bite and can get through all but the finest mesh screen, fire ants (small red ants that swarm up your leg and leave stinging pimply bites by the hundreds if they get the chance), and, of course, the Palmetto Bug, which are cockroaches the size of a small dog.
Shall I start on the reptiles?
Posted by: jane at June 27, 2005 10:51 AM
Don't visit Texas if you don't want to get biten-they will carry you offif you don't slather yourself in repellent! I can't go outside in Houston- my sweetie says they like me because I'm sweet... but I know better. I'm not.
Posted by: Amanda at June 27, 2005 11:44 AM
i haven't gotten one mosquito bite in brooklyn yet this summer...
Posted by: corie at June 27, 2005 1:34 PM
Ironically, mosquitos tend to go for populated areas. I spent a few days in the middle of nowhere in the peruvian rainforest a couple of years ago, and got bitten precisely zero times. No deet or anything. On the last day we visited the nearest community (about 20 miles away by boat), which had cleared part of the forest to grow crops. I got eaten alive.
Posted by: discostu at June 27, 2005 2:57 PM
There are probably colonies of mosquitoes along the Patuxent River thanks to their greatgreat grandmothers biting my butt in May 1989. Credit it to a biology class field trip, a midnight trip to the latrines, and being too disoriented to find them. I was actually glad for the haybale seating the next day.
Posted by: Divaah46 at June 27, 2005 5:16 PM
Mosquitoes LOVE me. I don't know why (but have heard from many others as well) there must be something in certain people that attracts them (phermones? greant, I'm attracting blood-suckers hmph). If Steve & I are together I will have 40 bites on me and he will have none. This happens here in Minnesota all the time (the mosquito is our state bird after all - ha ha ha so lame), it happens in Mexico it happens wherever I go. They love me. I hate them. I love Deep Woods Off. LOVE IT...bring on the DEET.
Posted by: carrster at June 27, 2005 10:14 PM
Florida bugs sound a whole lot like Austin bugs.
What, I need to know, was the last carrot?
Posted by: Bill at June 28, 2005 11:57 AM
