Why the Variety of Tick Hosts in Your Back Yard Might Be a Good Thing
A new study in Connecticut finds that residential habitats harbor a greater diversity of animal hosts for blacklegged ticks, many of which don't transmit the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi to ticks as well as white-footed mice do, thereby leading to lower levels of the pathogen's presence in residential areas compared to woodland habitats.
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.
Natural Compound Deters Lone Star Tick Larvae
A naturally occurring botanical compound found in anise, fennel, vanilla, and cranberries might be effective in deterring the larval stage of the lone star tick
Beware the “Dark Side” of Light Traps
Light traps are useful collecting devices to sample large numbers and species of insects, but they also may mask infestations of some insect-borne illnesses and even expose humans to disease vectors.
Another Tick Species’ Saliva Found to Have Antitumor Properties
Millions of years of evolution have made ticks highly specialized bloodsuckers. In fact, researchers who have studied tick saliva have found a range of compounds that fight back host defenses […]
The Story of the Little Fire Ant: Modern Medicine Learns From Indigenous Cultures
Indigenous cultures in Colombia have known for a long time that stings from the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, can cause corneal lesions. Medical doctors are just figuring it out.
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 […]
Building a Better Light Trap: Study Finds Specific Light Waves Attract Anopheline Mosquitoes
By Andrew Porterfield For more than 50 years, the light trap—an incandescent light source attached to an insect collector—has been the standard for sampling potentially disease-carrying mosquitos. The U.S. Centers […]
Where Vector Management Meets Pollinator Protection, Local Collaboration is Key
Managing mosquito and tick populations and protecting the health of pollinators are growing concerns on a global scale, but success in both requires teamwork on the local level. A coalition […]
Gas Station Windshield Wash Basins: Yet Another Habitat for Mosquito Larvae
Michael Reiskind, Ph.D., found inspiration for entomological research at a gas station. “Several years ago, I noticed an Aedes albopictus adult resting on the water in a windshield wash basin […]
Could a Null-Hypothesis Model Bring Greater Clarity to Forensic Entomology?
In its popular understanding, forensic entomology is the field of science that uses certain insects’ affinity for decomposition as a tool in death investigations. It is, of course, not as […]
CDC Study Sheds Light on New Lyme Disease-Causing Bacteria
A new species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease needs the same amount of time for transmission after a tick bite compared to previously implicated bacteria, according to new research […]
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 […]
Neighborhood Watch: How Asian Tiger Mosquito Habitat Varies From Block to Block in an Urban Setting
By Meredith Swett Walker A neighborhood watch generally keeps an eye out for potential burglars and vandals, reporting them to local law enforcement when spotted. But if you want to […]
First Report of Dwarf Deer Tick Comes as Overall Population Soars
By Leslie Mertz If you have ever found a deer tick crawling on your shirt or sock, you know how difficult they can be to spot. Adult females are about […]