Bzzz, Bzzz! Mosquitoes in your backyard by Nancy Loewen

An entertaining book to read to your kids or for an early reader to ready to you. You'll learn why mosquitoes bite even though their main food is nectar, just like butterflies. Loewen provides details on what makes bites itch, how to avoid being bitten, and what to do after a bite. She also details the life stages of mosquitoes, and their importance in a well-balanced ecosystem. A well-written text, clear illustrations, and a glossary explain the scientific words used in the book. This is far preferable to Jeff Glassberg's decision to use “tongue” instead of proboscis in American Butterflies, a magazine for adults published by the North American Butterfly Association.

A “Fun Facts” is that mosquitoes are attracted to light. True, but a few details are missing. I'm mentioning this not as a criticism of the book – it's intended for beginning readers and younger – but to provide information blog readers may find useful. An outdoor incandescent light may attract mosquitoes, so you may want to make sure your deck light is fluorescent (source: http://www.marysvilleohio.org/BuildingGroundsPages/Mosquito_Control.htm). Mosquitoes aren't attracted to UV light either, so if you have a bug zapper, you are killing harmless wildlife like moths. There have been several scientific studies of the effectiveness of bug zappers – they are effective at killing insects, but not the ones you want or intend to kill. Out of 10,000 insects killed, 8 were mosquitoes. It gets worse, for every mosquito killed, 250 insects that actually kill and eat mosquitoes were killed. Bug zappers make your insect problem worse! (source: Discovering Moths by John Himmelman)

Citation: Loewen, Nancy. 2006. Bzzz, Bzzz! Mosquitoes in your backyard. Picture Window Books: Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Find this book:
Daniel Boone Regional Library, Columbia: E 595.772 LOE
Adair County Public Library (Kirksville): JUV 595.772 Loe

Photo of the Week: Here's a photo of a mosquito trying to bite me through a pair of jeans. I'll have to admit my family had some serious questions about my sanity when I decided to sit outside at dusk and make images of biting mosquitoes!