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Maybe There Are So Many Mosquitoes This Summer Because We're All Drunks
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 18, 2011
Modified Jul 18, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 18, 2011
Modified Jul 18, 2011
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Make no mistake about it: we're at war with the mosquitoes this summer. It's so bad that some people in Rockaway are actually hoping they carry West Nile so they can get the city to come spray. (So far, the virus has only been detected in mosquitoes on Staten Island.) Enter: the Hartford Courant. They're here to tell you all about what will and won't work in preventing mosquitoes from eating you alive this summer, and they have terrible, terrible news. First of all: nothing really works. Secondly: alcohol attracts mosquitoes! Put down the Bartles & Jaymes! Animated Siren Gif!
The bearer of bad news told the paper, "It metabolizes the lactic and acidic acid on the skin, mostly the lactic, that adds to the blend of chemicals in the skin that attract mosquitoes." On the other hand, the more drunk you are the less the mosquitoes will annoy you. We tested this last night and found that after a few glasses of Pinot Grigio, the masses of mosquitoes just seem like little tiny fairy-winged wizards playing a game of Quidditch.
Your best bets, according to science, is to surround yourself with citronella candles ("you need a lot of them to be effective"), or lather yourself with chemicals (lotion works best, followed by spray). Or maybe science can be helpful and make us a citronella and DEET malt beverage?
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alcohol
mosquitoes
science says
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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