Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

Every year, like clockwork, we must deal with the explosive growth of mosquitoes that arrive in the summer. As opposed to decades prior, mosquito populations are reaching sizes that would’ve been incomprehensibly large years ago. Numerous factors have contributed to this growth, the main one being rising temperatures that have lengthened the typical mosquito season. The mosquito season in the Northeast has extended by up to two weeks earlier than normal! We aren’t alone in these changes, either, as many areas across the nation are seeing similarly dramatic temperature shifts, highlighting the need for mosquito control.

Such climatic shifts have highlighted how incredibly annoying and dangerous these insects are, as well as raised an age-old question: Why do mosquito bites itch? If receiving a bite from a thirsty mosquito wasn’t unpleasant enough, we also have to deal with the aftereffects. Our skin is one of our primary defenses against foreign substances and invaders, and it doesn’t usually react well to a mosquito bite. This occurs for a couple of reasons. Firstly, a mosquito isn’t just penetrating your skin as a needle would. Upon entering your skin, a mosquito’s proboscis can move around under the skin’s surface, searching for a suitable vein to steal blood from. As you can imagine, this is a very invasive process that can easily lead to skin irritation. The main culprit for your mosquito itch, though, is the mosquito’s saliva.

Mosquitoes aren’t powerful creatures, and they don’t have a sucking mechanism that will allow them to collect blood that is thicker than usual. To combat this shortcoming, mosquito saliva contains an anticoagulant that keeps blood in the targeted vein flowing smoothly. For a mosquito, time is of the essence when feeding on a larger, stronger animal, so it is in their best interest to grab a meal without a hitch and as quickly as possible to evade detection. Our bodies recognize mosquito saliva as a foreign, potentially harmful substance, and our immune systems will trigger a mild allergic reaction, the reason behind the swollen, itchy bumps you get from mosquito bites. This outdoor living season don’t let mosquito bites ruin your time out in nature. Simsbury mosquito control is here to help.

Who to rely on for Simsbury mosquito control?

At Mosquito Squad, we can say with pride that we’ve been working since 2005 to defend our customers against mosquitoes. Our barrier protection treatments, when applied by our highly trained technicians, are guaranteed to reduce the mosquito population in your yard by up to 90%. With reapplications every two to three weeks, you can expect to be defended against these insects throughout the summer and fall.

Mosquito saliva causes the itchy, red bites you receive in the summer. Leave bites in the rearview this season with Simsbury mosquito control from Mosquito Squad of Hartford. We have solutions for all your mosquito-related issues. Give us a call at (860) 356-3953.