Insect
Mosquito
Culicidae (various species)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Common Names
Musquetoe, Musquito
Habitat
Wetlands, river bottoms, and standing water throughout the expedition route
First Observed
1804-07-21
Observed At
Along the Missouri River near present-day Council Bluffs, Iowa
Perhaps no creature tormented the Corps of Discovery more than the mosquito. Clark wrote that “mosquitors more troublesom last night than I ever Saw them,” and the journals contain numerous references to these pests under various spellings including “musquetoe” and “musquetoes.” Lewis’s Newfoundland dog Seaman was particularly tormented along the upper Missouri, howling in pain from the bites. Clark also noted with relief in September 1806 that “the mosquitoes are no longer troublesome on the river.”
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Mosquito
Jun
23
1804
Clark: June 23, 1804
...o lay on, and geathered wood to make fires to
Keep off the musquitor & Knats. Heard the party on Shore fire, at Dark
Drewyer came to me with the horses, one fat bear ...
Jul
22
1804
Clark: July 22, 1804
... opposit a Creek 9 ms.
above the Plate on the S. S. Called Mosquitos Creek Prarie on both Sides
of the river. Came too and formed a Camp on the S. S. above a Small Wi...
Aug
5
1804
Clark: August 5, 1804
...as the
flaver of the Purple grape. camped on the S. S. the Musquitors verry
troubleson. The man who went back after his Knife has not yet come up, we
have Some reaso...
Aug
7
1804
Clark: August 7, 1804
...a Storm of wind from the N.
W. which lasted 3/4 of an hour mosquitors more troublesom last night than
I ever Saw them, Set out late this morning wind N.
---
7th Augus...
Aug
12
1804
Clark: August 12, 1804
...s Squad. we Camped on a Sand Island in a bend to
the S. S. Musquitors verry troublesom untile the wind rose. at one or 2
oClock
Aug
16
1804
Clark: August 16, 1804
...fter
generally; Sometimes before night which Blows off the Musquitors cools the
atmospere.
---
16th August Thursday 1804 Fishing Camp 3 ms. N. E. of the Mahars. a ver...
Jul
10
1805
Clark: July 10, 1805
...es, & ad to the width as much as the
tree would allow. The Musquitors emencely noumerous & troublesom,
Killed two deer & a goat. The Canoes did not arrive as I expect...
Jul
11
1805
Clark: July 11, 1805
...night for the purpose of takeing up the remaining
baggage. Musquitors verry troublesom, and in addition to their torments we
have a Small Knat, which is as disagreeab...
Jul
12
1805
Clark: July 12, 1805
...by land to
assist at this place in building the Canoes &c. musquitors & knats
verry troublesom all day. a fiew wild pigions about our Camp.
Jul
15
1805
Seaman Suffers from Prickly Pear During the Great Falls Portage
...e dog was also suffering from the extreme heat and constant mosquitoes, which Lewis described as "almost insufferable." Despite these hardships, Seaman completed the po...
Jul
18
1805
Clark: July 18, 1805
...aney places, we Camped
on a Small run of Clear Cold water, musquitors verry troublesom the
forepart of the evening I Saw great maney Ibex. we Crossed two Streams of
...
Jul
22
1805
Clark: July 22, 1805
... proceeded on a Short distance and Camped on an Island
the Musquitors verry troublesom this evening G Drewyer not knowing the
place we Camped Continued on up the rive...
Jul
25
1805
Seaman Tormented by Mosquitoes on the Missouri
...scriptions of Seaman's suffering during the expedition. The mosquitoes along the upper Missouri were so thick and relentless that Seaman howled with pain throughout the...
Aug
7
1805
Lewis: August 7, 1805
...k
species and a small brown species with a green head. the musquetoes are
not as troublesome as they were below, but are still in considerable
quantities. the eye kna...
Aug
16
1805
Lewis: August 16, 1805
...y laid down and the Chief
placed himself by the side of my musquetoe bier. I slept but little as
might be well expected, my mind dwelling on the state of the expeditio...
