How an Invasive Species Spreads: The Case of Aedes notoscriptus in Southern California
First arriving in California in 2014, the mosquito species Aedes notoscriptus, native to Australia and the southwest Pacific, has since established and spread to 44 cities in three counties. A new study examines the public health implications of this species and documents its likely arrival and expansion routes.
Male Mosquitoes Don’t Want Your Blood, But They Still Find You Very Attractive
A new study shows that male mosquitoes hover near humans but tend not to land or bite—a behavior researchers suspect is a tactic for finding female mates.
Study Shows American Dog Ticks in Western U.S. Are a Separate Species
Researchers have split the medically important American dog tick into two species: the existing Dermacentor variabilis in eastern states and the newly described Dermacentor similis west of the Rocky Mountains.
Why Genes That Make Mosquitoes Glow Can Help Reduce Vector-Borne Disease
Genes that make mosquitoes glow under UV light help scientists measure the spread of transgenic mosquitoes after they've been released to suppress wild populations of vector mosquito species. A recent study identifies a new promoter gene for turning on fluorescent protein production in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.