Watch out for nasty marsh mosquitoes this year in Washtenaw County
Mosquitoes that hatch out of marshy areas are active now — and they’re vicious biters, experts say.
Meanwhile, drier conditions could be holding floodwater mosquitoes, a different type of the insect, at bay, said Mike Kaufman, a Michigan State University entomology professor.
A good bout of rain will get these mosquitoes going again, Kaufman said.
West Nile virus is still present in the U.S., however. Infected mosquitoes can bite humans or animals and cause meningitis or encephalitis.
Cases of West Nile typically first occur in late June and continue through October, experts say.
West Nile sickened two people in Washtenaw County in 2010; 29 were sickened statewide and three people died from the disease last year.
Entomologists like Kaufman are also on the lookout for Eastern equine encephalitis, known as Triple E.
The disease involves an inflammation of the brain, and it killed more than 100 horses and sickened three people in Michigan in 2010, the worst outbreak since 1981, Kaufman said.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.
This has been a bad year for mosquitoes, at least where I live. Both of my girls seem to attract them. And, at various times, have looked like they have smallpox due to all the bites. They rarely bite me. Maybe I'm immune? Or, just too full of beer to attract them? Hmmmm.....not sure.
Laura Wetzel
Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 12:32 a.m.
@ Chip Reed. Please sir, get over it !
SillyTree
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
This is a much nastier strain than the marshmallow mosquito. Most people find it magically delicious.
Fatkitty
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Ok - so if I get bit by a mosquito now, it's likely by a marsh mosquito. Wow. Valuable information. And if I get bit by a floodwater mosquito (now that it has rained CATS and dogs), will the reaction be different? Who cares? So, do A2.com writers get paid by the hour or by the article?
bedrog
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
there is something different about the mosquitos this year....we live on the edge of a wetland, and im not typically a shorts wearer but the severity of the bites, both itch and inflammation-wise--even seemingly through cloth--, is worse than ive experienced before.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 4:25 a.m.
I agree about the inflammation. My oldest was outside all of 30 minutes, if that. She came in complaining of her back hurting and itching. She had humongous welts all over. No joking, at least 50 bites on her, some through the shirt she was wearing. The welts were ginormous! I seriously thought for a second about calling her doctor, or taking her to the ER for them. I thought she was having an allergic reaction or something. I've never seen anything like it. (And, I'm not the panicky type. They were just that bad.) A baking soda/water paste actually helped and shrunk them considerably. Thank you, Google!
John B.
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
It's probably due to that pesky climate-change thing that doesn't exist....
Mr Blue
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
It's good to know these things, but could annarbordotcom please refrain from juvenile editorializing in the headlines? Is it too much to ask for some, like, professional style writing? ewwwww! OMG! icky nasty mosquitos!
Major
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
Interesting, add Marsh Mosquitoesto the mix..heck I've been donating to the "Flood Plain" Mosquitoes all summer, now I have to put out to the Marsh Mosquito too!!! In addition to that, the Tiger should be out soon as well. Hope there are some hungry bat's around!!! This deet cologne just ain't getting it!!!
Jack Gladney
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
"Watch out for nasty marsh mosquitoes this year in Washtenaw County" How does one identify this genus and species of mosquito? What is one to do if they identify a nasty marsh mosquito? Journalism 101: Who? What? Where? Why? How? -delete comment-
seasons
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
I read this little blurb expecting information about the marsh mosquito but other than being mentioned by name, no real information. This isn't a news item, just a comment with no apparent effort to learn anything so that readers could be better informed.
catfishrisin
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for saying it.
KJMClark
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:25 a.m.
Maybe they haven't detected West Nile because they aren't testing. We had a young robin dead in our back yard. It had flight feathers - probably out of the nest a month ago or so. But it was in our backyard with no apparent cause of death. (No SUVs in sight!) I looked at the County website and found that they didn't want it. They lost Federal funding to test dead birds for West Nile. Instead, they asked that we fill in a State of Michigan web form to report the dead bird. A couple of years ago, they would have wanted us to bring it in somewhere for testing, but not anymore.
KJMClark
Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.
DDot - yes, but ours only go outside when we are out with them. A neighbor's cat roams the neighborhood, however. But this bird appeared out of nowhere in mid-afternoon. It was still very flexible when my wife pointed it out to me, and she had been working in the garden during the afternoon before the bird appeared in the middle of the yard. I checked the bird over pretty thoroughly; no signs of injury. Usually a cat will leave some signs of attack. Susan, I assume you're providing that information for other people, because as I said in my comment, I had reported the bird, having gone to the County West Nile website first. However, if no one is testing the birds, having a map of dead birds doesn't tell you what they're dying of, which was my point. That's the classic bureaucratic denial - "there is no evidence whatsoever of X" - implying that X isn't happening, but in reality, if no one is checking, lots of X could be happening and there would no record of it.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.
Nothing will happen until a politicians son or daughter is killed by a mosquito-borne illness. That's just the way these things work.
Susan Cerniglia
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
Dead birds may be reported to Washtenaw County Public Health using the West Nile Virus Hotline 734-544-6750. The line also provide West Nile Virus information. While birds are no longer tested, dead birds that are reported are mapped. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/environmental_health/west_nile_virus" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/environmental_health/west_nile_virus</a>
DDOT1962
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
Own any cats?
Chip Reed
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
If you and your mosquito get near me, I will end your mosquito.
Huron74
Tue, Jul 12, 2011 : 12:20 a.m.
"that poorly chosen threat is going to follow Ms. Keeping like a stray dog. ;-)" I sure hope so.
John of Saline
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Jinx, she doesn't hate dogs. She hates dogs who menace/attack her and/or her child. She was clear about that. I hate them too. I haven't encountered one in years, luckily enough. But it does happen.
DDOT1962
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:35 a.m.
Ooohhh....that poorly chosen threat is going to follow Ms. Keeping like a stray dog. ;-)
jinxplayer
Mon, Jul 11, 2011 : 11:26 a.m.
Haha you beat me to it. Nice to see Ms. Dog Hater is minding her P's and Q's