Florida is home to about 80 to 85 mosquito species, many of which live in the panhandle. Of those, 20 plus are exotic mosquitos which have been inadvertently imported, such as the Asian Tiger Mosquito also called the Tire Mosquito.
Contrary to popular perception, not all of these dine on humans. Some target only birds, others only frogs, and still others will target any animal which can provide a blood meal.
The blood meal is sought only by the females as part of the reproductive process. The nutrients found in the blood of a host are critical to producing viable mosquito eggs.
Both adult male and female mosquitos consume plant nectar as a source of high sugar energy during their lives. Most males live about a week and are easy to identify with a magnifying glass. They have distinctly bushy antennae on their heads.
While many of mosquitos are considered pests, only about 20 are vectors for diseases. A sudden increase in their population after a storm or flooding event will attract the attention of public health officials.
Home landscapes contain many opportunities to capture rainwater. Even this stump hole will hold water long enough for mosquitos to hatch and continue their life cycle.
As a “bridge vector”, mosquitos do not directly infect humans or livestock with a pathogen. They prey on carriers, commonly birds, which act as the disease reservoir and then spread the infection of the carrier species.
The female mosquito seeks a blood meal to support her next batch of eggs. If the disease-afflicted carrier comes into contact with a female mosquito that will take a blood meal from any source, then the disease may reach humans, livestock and even pets
Disease outbreaks can occur at any time, but they typically come later in the mosquito season. The preceding cold season will always kill off some of the disease reservoir animals and initially thin the mosquito population.
Any standing water in ditches, pastures, swamps or any water-tight container exposed to the open environment is a probable breeding site for mosquitos.
As mosquito season progresses, the mosquitos increase their numbers and improve their chances of contacting a diseased animal. The odds of a disease outbreak grow with each blood meal the mosquito consumes.
Mosquito mitigation methods are simple. Remove standing water from around homes, barns, and other mosquito-prone areas.
Use repellants per label directions and wear protective clothing. Avoid exposure to mosquitos during dusk and dawn when they are most actively feeding. Take extra precautions when working or playing in natural areas with ponds, swamps and marshes.
While mosquitos can be a major impediment to enjoying January’s few spring-like days, they do have a place in the environmental balance. Some fish fingerlings and dragonflies are dependent upon mosquito larva as a source of food.
Purple martins, bats and toads use adult mosquitos as a major dietary staple.
As winter moves to spring, take prudent precautions, and let the aforementioned species control the mosquitos without giving these airborne insects supplemental nutrition.
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