Just found a male mosquito, global warming??

Question

Im scottish and this defo aint a midgie.it identical to all the yahoo images of male mosquito with the feathery sensors and stuff. have we always had mosquitos but we just dnt notice it?iv seen plenty of female ones but when i was abroad.just strange to get them in a house in scotlands west coast dont u think?if anyone knows about mozzies in the uk then give me some usefull info pls, cheers

Answer 1

In recent years there has been an increase in the numbers of mosquitoes in the UK primarily as a result of warmer conditions.

The behavioral patterns of culicoides impunctatus (the dreaded Scottish biting midge) have changed in recent years and as such they are more likely to be encountered during the daytime, in sunlight and in rain. Conditions which until 10 to 15 years ago would have been regarded as midge free can now be midge infested.

The midge and mosquito are cousins, changes in the behavioral pattern of one is likely to be mimicked in the other, it seems likely that both the midge and mosquito populations will continue to increase.

Mosquitos in the UK are harmless. Their bite, like that of the midge, causes intense itching which can be treated with an anti-histameine or cooled with water.

As with midges they prefer warm, still, and damp conditions and thrive in drainage ditches, marshes, bogs etc. It's the famale which bites as she needs protein from a blood meal in order to reproduce and the breeding season is similar to that of the midge (June to September).

Prevention of mosquito bites is the same as for midges - Diethyl Toluamide (DEET) based products being the most effective repellants.

If you find a mosquito then kill it, if you find a breeding site then let your local Environmental Health Officer know (should be listed in the Yellow Pages under 'Council').

Useful tip - light a candle on warm still nights, there's nothing more pleasing than the sound of a midge cracking as it flies into the flame.

Answer 2

Here in London the London Underground, better known by us Cockneys as the Choob [Tube] has it's very own variety of mozzie [mosquito]. Not sure exactly when this version of the mozz first appeared, some think back in the 1930s.

The bad news about the mozz is that it can fly north as far as the Tundra regions of Alaska, Canada and Russia etc.

The other bad news is that Oliver Cromwell was stung by a mozz and eventually died of malaria - yup, right here in dull boring Puritan London; back then anyway.

On his deathbed, Crumb was offered the newly discovered quinine by his quack. Crumb thrust the powder aside, calling it, "the Devil's dust". He died the next day. Stupid prat.

The most famous Mosquito was the twin-engined fighter bomber by de Haviland of WW2 fame. People laughed at it because it was made of ply-wood. But it could be shot up and covered in bullet holes and still get to it's target and back home again. It was bloody fast.

In order to breed, mosquitos require water, lots of water. If you've got flooding or had any near where you live, you'll get a plague of mozzies. All your local council need do is spray the flood water with tar oil. It kills the mozz stone dead and gums up it's wings to it cannot fly. True!

Answer 3

I never knew that you didn't have mosquito's in the UK !! That's something I know a little about!!Only the females suck blood!! If you have any standing water around get rid of it they love to breed in that stuff!! We have millions of mosquito's here in Canada!! It's got a lot to do with global warming!! I wouldn't worry to much about West Nile at the moment unless you see a lot of dead birds!! I have been bitten lots and I'm still here with no ill affects so don't freak out I'm sure you'll be fine!!

Answer 4

well... there are a lot of male mosquitoes, but they just aren't seen as much. I see them outside my house a lot during the summer. Scary.
It is odd that your getting them where you live. It probably is global warming with all the odd weather and the whole dengue fever going on in Puerto Rico. There was a tornado in Brooklyn which I don't think usually happens, so I don't see why there can't be mosquitoes in scotland.

Answer 5

I live in the West Midlands. There have always been mosquitoes around my part ... have fond memories of having blood sucked out of me leaving me with plenty of itchy bites when I was younger!

If females are here, there are bound to be males.

Answer 6

Here in the US, we supposedly produce 10 trillion mosquitoes a year - enough to fill the Grand Canyon.

Mosquitoes find you because they can "smell" the CO2 you give off as well as other scents in your sweat. They can also feel your heat. One of the best natural repellents to use - or at least my favorite - is a citronella candle. Citronella oil naturally repels it, while the burning candle produces enough heat and CO2 to throw the mosquito off the scent. Plus it can make for a more romantic evening...

Answer 7

Far be from me to cast aspersions, but if you had female mosquitos in Scotland then there must have been males there too.

Answer 8

Just in case you didn't know it, mosquitoes are very common in the arctic. They always have been.

Answer 9

is it a nile mosquito? beware. i saw a man who got fever and could never walk again. a doctor in dallas, tx. he was do tv psa's to encourage people to take precautions. nile virus is terrible for some. feeling weak and a little feverish? go to evergecny room and get checked. they have something for it.

Answer 10

It's not the temp, it's just that they try to avoid areas where they are most likely to get killed by blood alcohol poisoning, did it look like there were 2 of them by any chance?