Alaska's Bugs: The Northern Mosquito Is Ferocious

A jar of freshly-killed mosquitoes, caught in apropane-fired bug trap at Byers Lake on the Parks Highway.

That's A Lot Of Mosquitoes!

Mosquitoes live all over the world, but the Alaska mosquito (sometimes called "The Alaska State Bird") is fiercer than most. There are basically two mosquito seasons. The early season features big, slow-flying insects that are relatively easy to swat when they land on you. Later, as the season winds down, they give way to tiny, kamikaze-like fighter bombers that sweep in, suck your blood, and run off again before you even notice.

In the tundra areas, where there are few trees, mosquitoes are replaced by "no-seeums" or gnats, when berry picking season comes along. Gnats bite you around the edges of your clothes, like your waistband, the top of your socks, your wristband, or even the edges of the back of your ears. Gnats are even worse than mosquitoes because they leave huge, hard lumps that take days to fade away.