Siberia's surprise: A photographer's battle with a mosquito swarm
For this fantastic shot, the photographer almost had his feet devoured. The moment he removed his socks, starved insects swarmed his legs. These chilling events, eagerly exploited by mosquitoes, did not unfold in the damp forests of the Amazon but in the Siberian regions, typically known for their cold climate.
14 May 2024 08:23
Amos Chapple, the photographer swarmed by many mosquitoes, shared his ordeal on social media. It wasn't a staged experiment for spectacular photos but an absolute mosquito onslaught crafted by nature.
"On this morning I’d slipped and fallen into a stream. As I took my boots off to squeeze out my socks, the mosquito swarm moved from my head to my feet and I knew I had the shot needed to illustrate that detail of Arctic forest hell," he wrote on Instagram.
He let the mosquitoes feast on his foot briefly to capture the moment. He mentioned that the relentless company of these insects followed him from sunrise to sunset, buzzing menacingly. This aspect of his journey could not have been captured in any other way.
"After waiting a minute or so for the mosquitos to gather for the photo I slapped and swore and pulled my socks back on. The feeling walking away was less an itch than a burning, awful heat. If someone had offered me a bucket of icy water to plunge my feet into I’d have paid $100 cash on the spot," recounted the traveler.
Bloodthirsty swarm. Male mosquitoes dine on pollen
According to YourWeather.com, the far north presents the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes in summer. There, they reproduce on an exceptional scale. Once they locate a target, they seize the opportunity in full.
Only females attack. Males lack bloodthirst. Their needs are minimal for survival. They lead brief, uncomplicated lives, often consuming nothing, occasionally feasting on pollen from flowers.
Females, akin to vampires in their quest for blood, require it to accomplish a remarkable feat. They lay around 300 eggs, most of which will spawn another generation.
