Fertilizer Runoff is a Boon to Mosquito Growth
A new study shows that fertilizer present in water where mosquitoes breed can boost growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi, which mosquito larvae feed on, resulting in accelerated larval development and greater survival rates to adulthood.
Another Step Forward in Genetic Engineering of Mosquitoes
The disruption of mosquitoes' cuticle, wing, and eye development is “proof of concept" for a new advance in the genetic engineering method known as CRISPR/Cas9.
Three-Quarters of U.S. Has Suitable Climate for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes
Three-quarters of counties in the contiguous United States present suitable environmental conditions for at least part of the year for either Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to survive if introduced, according to researchers […]
Faster ID of Mosquito Species Possible via CDC Improvements to DNA Testing Methods
A crucial step in management of mosquito-borne diseases is knowing exactly what kind of mosquitoes are present in any given locale. Are they garden-variety species that aren’t carriers of human […]
Entomologists Discuss Discovery’s “Mosquito” Documentary: A Live-Tweet Recap
The old adage “bad press is better than no press” has a long history, and it surely applies to coverage of insects broadly and insects that are harmful to humans, […]
CDC Releases New Data Showing Gaps Remain in Surveillance for Mosquitoes That Transmit Zika
As concerns over Zika virus have grown since 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has turned to local public health professionals to compile data on distribution […]
Traces of Zika Found in Asian Tiger Mosquito in Brazil
In a recent test of Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) collected in Brazil, researchers found fragments of Zika virus RNA, raising concerns that it may be carried by species other […]
Mosquito Repellents: DEET and PMD Sprays Most Effective, While Wearable Devices Disappoint, Study Finds
A search for “mosquito repellent” on Amazon.com delivers more than 28,000 product results. For a regular consumer, it can be difficult to find the ones that truly work among a […]
New Federal Report on Aedes Mosquitoes Could Signal Shift in How Zika Virus and Other Pathogens are Researched
By Johanna Elsensohn Throughout the world, a single mosquito bite can have one of many consequences: mild infection, severe illness, birth defects, death, or, for the majority of people, just […]
Could a Large-Scale Zika Outbreak Occur in the United States?
By Josh Lancette While recent news cycles in the United States largely have been dominated by election coverage, the threat of Zika remains a concern both locally and globally, with […]
Cases of Dengue Drop 91 Percent Due to Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
Scientists reduced the cases of dengue by 91% in the city Piracicaba, located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo by using sterile insects
Wolbachia Bacterium Prevents Mosquitoes from Transmitting Zika and Chikungunya
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have confirmed that a benign bacterium called Wolbachia pipientis can completely block transmission of Zika virus in Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for […]
Scientists Track Mosquitoes that Transmit Zika and Dengue by County
By Harvey Black As mosquito-borne diseases that were once rare or unseen in the United States are making their presence known in the country, a team of researchers from the […]
Entomologists and Medical Experts Participate in Zika Symposium
(This blog post contains excerpts from an article by Kathy Keatley Garvey.) On May 26, 2016 a symposium on Zika was held at the University of California, Davis. Speakers included […]
GAT Mosquito Traps Can Be Effective Even without Pesticides
By Ed Ricciuti With Zika, dengue, and chikungunya spreading, and yellow fever re-emerging, health workers are ramping up surveillance of the ubiquitous Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries these arboviral diseases. […]
New Trap Proves Effective Against the Mosquito that Transmits Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya
By Harvey Black As concern and controversy swirl about the Zika virus, Argentinian researchers have developed a new trap that can be used to effectively monitor and control the Aedes […]