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Maine Mosquitoes Abundant and Aggressive

June 06, 2011 - Rumford — If you think there are a lot of very aggressive mosquitoes in Maine this spring, you're not alone.

"Due to the very wet spring Maine has experienced this year, mosquitoes have found more places to breed," said Charlene Donahue, a 30-year veteran entomologist with the Maine Department of Conservation's Forest Service.

"In addition, we have had unseasonably cool temperatures for most of the spring. These cool temperatures have kept the mosquitoes at bay," she said. "They have been piling up waiting for the warmer temperatures to come out to find their hosts to bite."

Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and early evening, Donahue said.

"Many think the mosquitoes' increased activity during these times is a response to more of their potential hosts being active during these hours, and they have adapted their behavior to suit optimal feeding times," she said.

"There is not just one species of mosquito in Maine but 44, she said.

"We entomologists love mosquitoes and don't want to see them eradicated. They are at the bottom of the food chain and so many animals depend on them for their survival," she said.

"The state doesn't get into mosquito control," she advised. "There are a number of private companies that deal with that, particularly in the southern part of the state."

In recent years, there have been more vector borne diseases carried by mosquitoes principally Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and the West Nile Virus, Donahue said. Most of the reported cases have been found in southern and midcoast Maine.

EEE, the more dangerous of the two, can be fatal to humans, but if treated properly and swiftly is not life threatening. The number of cases of EEE in humans is very rare, according to Donahue. There have been no case of either disease found in Oxford County to date.

"Some entomologists fear EEE may be more widespread in Maine than has been previously thought," Donahue said. "There are more studies with scientists drawing blood from deer and turkeys throughout the state to determine how prevalent and widespread it is."

Still the odds of a human contracting either of these diseases from a mosquito bite in Maine is extremely rare, Donahue said.

"Many people remember the EEE outbreak involving horses in the Unity area, in Maine's midcoast area, several years ago," she said.

"The best thing a person can do to minimize getting bit is to cover exposed skin. Also, stay cool when they are swarming around you. Mosquitoes are especially attracted to people who become physically agitated and flail about," she said.

Also, mosquitoes are known to be more attracted to darker colored clothing, such as dark blue, dark green and black, than lighter colors," she said.

Topical repellents with the chemical DEET can be quite effective with mosquitoes, " she said. However, she cautioned that people be careful applying repellents with DEET too close to the face, especially around the eyes, mouth and nose due to the chemical's toxicity.

It is better to apply DEET insect repellents to your clothes than exposed skin," she said.

"Another strong insecticide/repellent one can use is Permetheran," Donahue said. "It is best to use repellents with this chemical on your clothes."

"Lemon eucalyptus is a wonderful natural insect repellent," Donahue said, "especially for those adverse to using man-made chemical repellents like DEET."

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently announced that lemon eucalyptus is as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes, provided one applies it more liberally and more often, Donahue said.

To minimize the mosquito population around your home, Donahue advises opening up the property by cutting back bushes, undergrowth and shrubs to get more breeze and sunlight.


Dan Fayen, Sun Journal, June 2011


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