[pct-l] Mojitos / they don't bite... they suck through a tiny tube.

[Don Billings]

Mosquitos "bite" their meals not by teeth but by using what amounts to a hypodermic needle. Seriously, if you look at one under your biology class microscope, you'd be amazed that the end of the feeding tube is even beveled just like a medical needle. AND.... they can stick it through, between the threads of your clothing and mesh apparel if the skin if up against the material or mesh covering. You experience this fact when you find mosquito welts on your legs despite wearing pants.

So, the mesh idea for the ears is a start but would likely be ineffective due to its tight fit over the skin. Something that kept the woven material from sitting directly against the skin would work... or something more solid that mesh or cloth fabric.

The idea, though, that hikers can wear a mesh of some type over their nose/mouth to keep from inhaling the critters is a good one... if you decide that a full mesh hood was too cumbersome for the critters (flies, nats, etc).





----- Original Message ----
From: "jape1 at cox.net" <jape1 at cox.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net; Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Sent: Wed, January 13, 2010 12:02:35 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mojitos

they've already been made, just not for the purpose you describe.  You can see a picture of one at
http://tinyurl.com/ycfryty  Think of a hair net sized to fit 1/2 of a lemon...<g>

<snip>
I swore I was going  
> to invent special little mosquito net ear protectors just to prevent  
> that from happening again.
> 
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