Need to Feed Mosquitoes? Head for the Freezer Aisle
In search of a simple, cost-effective way to maintain laboratory mosquito colonies, biologists at a mosquito control district in Florida have turned to food-grade frozen animal blood found at specialty grocery stores. They share the success of their new method for other cash-strapped mosquito-management operations in the open-access Journal of Insect Science.
When Mosquitoes Go to Bed for Winter, and How It Can Inform Management
A look at the body of research on how and when day lengths trigger mosquitoes to enter winter diapause suggests more data on mosquito species' critical photoperiods and their relation to latitude and altitude could better align surveillance and management efforts with mosquitoes' seasonally active periods.
Study on Mosquito Landing Rates Could Improve Repellent Testing
Research on the rate at which mosquitoes land on people in field tests and lab tests finds that common arm-in-cage test results differ significantly from those found in large-room or field tests. The findings point the way toward making tests of mosquito repellents more aligned with real-world conditions.
Study Finds Bigger Mosquitoes in Baltimore Neighborhoods with More Abandoned Buildings
A recent study found that female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are larger in neighborhoods with more abandoned buildings—and larger mosquitoes are more likely to survive and breed.