Have you ever wondered about a mosquito’s sex life? No, I really didn’t expect you would have, and I hadn’t myself until recently. I’m amazed at how they multiply from a few random fly-pasts on a June day, to a full-fledged bombing brigade a week later.
I’m sorry if you think I’ve gone off track here, but this really does affect my writing.
Apparently it only takes about five days for a mosquito to develop from egg stage to an adult. The females generally breed within a couple days of reaching maturity. The males die within a week of mating and the females follow soon after. So if their lifespan is that short you wouldn’t expect sudden population explosions, would you?
Then how is it possible to work productively in my favourite summer writing locale on the back deck one weekend, and be interrupted by hordes of blood-hungry, hypodermic-needle-wielding insects the next? I think it has something to do with the fact that female mosquitoes lay anywhere from 40 to 400 eggs. Didn’t know that, did you? I’ll bet you also didn’t know that a mosquito can fly non-stop for up to four hours at a time at speeds of one-to-two kilometers per hour and travel up to twelve kilometers in a night. That means even if I sneak away to a new locale tonight they’ll still be able to find me. Oh, help!
I wonder how soon they’ll discovered a post-coitus anti-pregnancy pill for mosquitoes. At this rate I’ll never get my revisions done.
MUSINGS 
Okay – this had me rolling! You are halarious, Carol! I love the way you write. Way too much fun! And I feel so much more educated on mosquitos now. 🙂
Geez – I thought my link to your blog was messed up. What a killer first line. Too funny.
There’s a tiny little town off the beaten path in Delaware (near the bay) called Skeeter Neck. The name itself was enough to keep my curiosity in check, so I never visited.
A mosquito was to blame for my first-ever cuss-in-front-of-my-parents episode. (My grandfather was a cusser). As I smacked the apparent ‘squadron leader’ I called it an SOB. Mom & Dad were shocked (I was 6 or 7 – & SOB was one of Pop’s favorite expressions). I got the old ‘watch your mouth’ reprimand but I think they were trying really hard not to laugh.
Hilarious? Funny? You both laughed? Hey, you try concentrating on revisions with a constant buzz in your ear. (Oh, wait. That was the buzz *inside* my head… the one I was getting from the insect spray.) Smacking blood suckers is decidedly distracting. I don’t recommend it while you’re trying to write. Whoever it was that said writing was just a matter of opening a vein and watching the blood drip onto the page must have been acquainted with mosquitoes, too. 😉
I don’t have a laptop, and haven’t encountered many mosquitoes in our house. They all seem to be guarding my black raspberry bushes. I have to wear long sleeves and jeans to pick the berries, otherwise I’d be in danger of passing out from loss of blood. 😦
Good luck on the novel. I haven’t had time to read through the older posts to see what you’re working on. Are you close to finishing?
Carol
Carol–I envy you those raspberry bushes. Raspberries are my absolute favourite! As for my novel writing, I’ve written two and am working on a third as I revise the second yet again. I also freelance for an assortment of Canadian magazines. This month it’s “Dogs In Canada“.
Have you tried essential oils? I think lavender oil rubbed on all your exposed parts might do the trick. Ask at your local health food store which oil is best. Must be 100% pure essential oil.
Hmmm. No wonder I haven’t heard of any famous writers from Tok.
Tricia–I haven’t used anything (yet). Must admit the “hordes” is a bit of an exaggeration but if they’re still flitting around when the next batch of nice weather arrives I might just give your idea a try. Thanks.
Heather–You haven’t forgotten Tok! [lol] By their own admission Tok, Alaska’s “state bird” is the mosquito. I should see if I can find the picture I took there, of our RV window screen plastered with them!
I just recieved my tip of the day from Heloise and her subject was exactly this. She said to rub or sweet almond oil. (Lavender smells better)
I like the idea of lavender better… maybe I’d be inspired to start a “lavender and lace” mystery novel. Oops, no, I think that idea’s already been taken. 🙂
I heard that their eggs can lay dormant for 100 years. It’s all about the rain. They lay eggs, the rains come, the water rises, the lava hatch, and … presto, tons of annoying mosquitoes!
I’m allergic. I hope their sex is terribly painful.
I’m not allergic, just annoyed, but I hope it is, too. 😉