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 […]
A Clip-on Repellent Device Offers Protection Against Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
By Josh Lancette With public concern about the Zika virus growing daily, people are looking for effective ways to prevent mosquito bites, and now there’s some good news for the […]
Mosquitoes More Likely to Lay Eggs in Water Sources Near Flowers
By Josh Lancette Certain mosquitoes are more likely to lay eggs in water sources near flowers than in water sources without flowers, according to an article published in the Journal […]
Thirty-three Cases of Dengue Fever on Hawaii Island
The State of Hawaii’s Department of Health is investigating a cluster of locally-acquired cases of dengue fever on Hawaii Island. Dengue is not endemic to Hawaii. However, it is intermittently […]
Mowing Grass in Water-Detention Basins Increases Mosquito Populations
Mowing grass and weeds is a useful way of managing some pests. For example, clearing yards and fields is one way of managing ticks without using insecticides because mowing discourages […]
Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Reduce Dengue Transmitters by 95 Percent
The results of a trial of genetically engineered mosquitoes intended to reduce their ability to transmit dengue fever have been published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The mosquitoes, […]
Researchers Find La Crosse Virus in Aedes japonicus Mosquitoes
By Harvey Black Researchers have found another invasive mosquito species that carries the virus responsible for La Crosse encephalitis in the Appalachian region. In the April 2015 edition of Emerging […]
Wolbachia Bacteria Can Control Mosquitoes with Fewer Chemicals
By Erin Weeks Imagine that a strain of bacteria living in your body had the power to protect you from deadly viruses, render you sterile, or even help give rise […]
Researchers Discover Natural Insect Growth Regulators in Plants
Insect growth regulators, or IGRs, are chemicals that are used in some insecticides to control certain insects. Unlike many other insecticides, they are not nerve agents and they generally do […]
Some Facts About Florida’s Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
A new genetic-modification technique known as RIDL (Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal) tinkers with the DNA of male mosquitoes, which do not bite people or other animals. When males mate, they pass on a lethal gene that cause all their offspring to die.
Why Fly When You Can Hitchhike? Mosquitoes Rely on Roads to Disperse
It’s only been about a year since the tropical disease chikungunya was first spotted in the Western Hemisphere. In December 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a travel […]
Researchers Find Gene that Makes Mosquitoes Prefer Humans over Animals
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is one of the world’s deadliest mosquitoes. Found in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, it is the principal carrier of yellow fever, dengue fever, […]
Entomology 2014: Portland, Oregon
This post is by Dr. Cameron Webb, a medical entomologist from Australia who is on has already begun the long journey to Portland for Entomology 2014. In it, he lists some cool things to see in the city of Portland and some upcoming highlights from the meeting in the field of medical entomology and public health. Follow him on Twitter at @Mozziebites, and follow his blog at http://cameronwebb.wordpress.com.
Scientists Find Mosquito Receptors that Make DEET Effective as Repellent
Scientists have long known that DEET, the gold standard of insect repellents for more than six decades, effectively repels mosquitoes, but now researchers in the Walter Leal Lab at the […]
Bacterium May Make Mosquitoes Less Susceptible to Dengue and Malaria
Just like those of humans, insect guts are full of microbes, and the microbiota can influence the insect’s ability to transmit diseases. A study published in PLOS Pathogens reports that […]
Mosquitoes “Smell” and “Taste” DEET and other Repellents
Mosquitoes not only have a sense of smell for certain insect repellents, but they also have a sense of taste for these chemicals, according to scientists at the U.S. Department […]