How Florida Mosquito Control Could Trim Disease in Northern States
Researchers in Florida have pinpointed the local overwintering habitats of mosquitoes that host eastern equine encephalitis virus. They hope targeted control efforts can cull those mosquitoes before they transmit the virus to birds that carry it north to other parts of the country.
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.
Salt-Based Mosquito-Control Products Aren’t Worth Their Salt, Study Finds
Products claiming to reduce mosquito populations with salt-water solutions are ineffective, according to a new study. In a series of lab tests using nine mosquito species, a team of expert mosquito researchers found no evidence that adult mosquitoes are killed by salt ingested at concentrations used in several popular mosquito-control products. The findings are reported in the Journal of Medical Entomology.