Insects - Alaska

The bugs are back with a biting vengeance

SWATTING SEASON: Skeeters and other winged pests seem worse than ever.

By DOUG O'HARRA, Anchorage Daily News

Published: June 12, 2005

They buzz and bite and swarm. They drive people indoors,

torment gardeners, stampede the tourists.

It's the Incredible Return of the Bugs, sequel to last spring's

fierce hatch, and many people say they've never been pricked

and pestered with such vengeance.

We're talking jillions here: mosquitoes, aphids, dragonflies,

midges, gnats, hornets, beetles and assorted creepy-crawlies

with all those weird Latin names.

You can read the full story online at:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6599095p-6483140c.html

Oh my gosh, Mosquitos love my husband. He will die!!! Is this just for a short period or will they be around for the summer? We will be on a cruise the first week of July.

Make sure you make garlic a key ingredient in your diet. :p

Also keeps the Vampires away

We just got back and they got me through my shirt!!

If you're just doing the cruise portion, without interior hiking, you should be fine. Haven't seen a mosquito in all three cruises, and I'm definitly prime bait. I'm currently testing for West Nile in CA... unpaid unfortunately! :D

I didn't think that West Nile had made its way to Alaska yet. Am I wrong? I'm planning on wearing bug spray, but that is only because I have really terrible reactions (scars, yay!) to skeeter bites.

Aren't mosquitos the state bird?

I didn't think that West Nile had made its way to Alaska yet. Am I wrong?

I don't think it has yet. It'll be very sad for the eagle population if it gets bad there.

I was in Alaska for a week last August and did not see one bug.

Aren't mosquitos the state bird?

Well, since you can see them coming from a mile away...I think state predator would be better.:)

I live in Arkansas now and people complain about the mosquitos down here. Growing up in Alaska, I looked like one swollen bump from all the mosquitos bites I received. Haven't had one since I moved down here, don't know what people are complaining about.

I didn't think that West Nile had made its way to Alaska yet. Am I wrong? I'm planning on wearing bug spray, but that is only because I have really terrible reactions (scars, yay!) to skeeter bites.

Try Avon Skin-So-Soft. That was about the only thing that worked for me growing up - and I have terrible reactions to skeeter bites - of course as I kid I'd forget to put it on before I went outside. I used to have to get steroid shots to stop the itching.

Good thing I read this thread so I know to pack some bug spray. I leave in July.

We just got back and the only problem we had was on a tour in Skagway and you could saddle those suckers! And the flies too!