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.
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 the top of their heads.
Home landscapes contain many opportunities to capture rainwater. These catch basins, even the tiny ones, must be closely monitored to control mosquito breeding sites in close proximity to people. Plant dishes are a prime breeding site.
While many of the 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.
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’s 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 typically come later in the mosquito season. The preceding cold season will always kill off some of the disease reservoir animals and thin the mosquito population initially.
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 likely 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 warm weather in north Florida, they have a place in the environmental balance. Some fish fingerlings and dragonflies are dependent upon mosquito larvae as a source of food.
Purple martins, bats and toads use adult mosquitos as a major dietary staple.
As spring moves to summer, take prudent precautions, and let the aforementioned species control the mosquitos without giving these airborne insects supplemental nutrition.
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