As I recall, one of the early studies on alcoholism in insects was done in central New York. As Don has said, a primary food source for mosquitos in the Great Montezuma Swamp - during much of the nineteenth century - was Irish canal workers. Alcoholism in the bugs was a predictable result. Unfortunately, that means that anyone who consumes alcohol to dull the discomfort of mosquito bites is simply making her/himself a more attractive target. And that, of course, is most people in central New York.

So what we now have is a mutually-reinforcing, closed-loop cycle of human-insect alcohol dependency. Someone once told me that, that was the inspiration for Utica Club beer, the location of the F.X.Matt brewery and a number of other once-thriving breweries. The hops blight of the early 20th century up here closed many of those breweries.However, it did nothing to stop the dependency, leaving us vulnerable to Coors, Miller Light and other unspeakables.

Our unforeseen weakness has led to our being shamelessly exploited.

Don't pity us. Send decent beer.