This article is published in conjunction with the article "Wasps Are Just Better" by Willow Simon
Each spring and summer, Concord Academy experiences the emergence of two rather bothersome insects: mosquitoes and wasps. Most people can agree that the two biting insects are both irritating, but on the question of which is worse, there is less of a consensus.
Mosquitoes are better than wasps because their stings are significantly more manageable. Think of any summer or early fall evening, mosquitoes fly about at night and occasionally bite on an arm, leg, or shoulder. The resulting wound is small but very itchy, leading some people to scratch until it bleeds and even scars. Although these bites are immediately irritating, they are preventable, treatable, and almost always harmless.
Bug spray tends to be extremely effective against mosquitoes, and although some varieties contain harsh chemicals, others are more natural while retaining their repellent properties. These products can reduce the frequency of bites, making the outdoors more enjoyable. Even with the most diligent bug spray application, most people are bound to get a couple of bites throughout the season. These can be treated with anti-itch creams and sprays, including hydrocortisone and AfterBite, which temporarily reduce inflammation and irritation, allowing the bites to heal faster. Although some of these products sting slightly when applied, the relief they offer is worth it.
Mosquito bites are almost always harmless. Although some kinds of mosquitoes can carry diseases such as malaria and Zika virus, the odds of contracting one of these diseases is extremely low. Less than 10 percent of mosquitoes are involved in disease transmission, and the chances of actually becoming ill once bit by a carrying mosquito are even lower, at a rate of around 1 out of 300. Mosquito-borne diseases can be extremely dangerous and even fatal, but most people get hundreds of bites over their lifetimes without ever becoming infected.
Mosquitos are also essential for the health of ecosystems. Many environments, such as the swampy areas around CA rely on the mosquito for their health and they serve as a food source for many other species. Animals such as frogs, birds, and bats eat them and rely on their nutrients for survival. Some species of mosquitoes also serve as pollinators like bees, as male mosquitoes eat nectar for nutrients.
Although mosquitoes can be annoying at times, they most often are merely a nuisance without posing any real threat. On the other hand, wasp bites can cause severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Approximately 50 to 100 people in the United States die each year from wasp stings due to this severe venom allergy. Most others stung develop a raised red and rather painful bump that can be extremely irritating and take days to heal. Wasps, unlike bees and some other stinging insects, retain their stinger after each bite meaning they can affect many people over a short time. Wasps sting when they feel threatened, especially if people approach their nests. However, many times these nests are invisible to humans and exist underground, meaning the stings can seem unprovoked and be very difficult to avoid.
Although wasps, too, play their own role in the environment, their effects on people tend to be more dangerous and painful. Mosquitoes primarily act as a nuisance, just a treatable inflammation on an otherwise perfect summer evening, while wasps can turn that same day into a life-threatening emergency or a very painful wound. Both bugs have their pros and cons, but it seems clear that mosquitoes are, overall, superior to wasps.