Another Non-Native Mosquito Species Adds to Growing List in Florida
Mosquito researchers in Florida report the presence in the state of Culex lactator, a species previously known from Central and South America. The arrival adds to the growing list of non-native mosquito species finding their way into Florida—a worrying trend for public-health entomologists.
Plant Pollen May Be Important Food Source for Some Mosquitoes in U.S.
Larvae of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) fared well in a new study when fed a diet of corn or pine pollen. The findings suggest corn pollen could help the species— key vector of West Nile virus in the U.S.—thrive in habitats near agricultural areas.
A Mandibleful of Plastic: Study Assesses if Microplastic Consumption Harms Mosquitoes
As tiny plastic particles infiltrate seemingly every environment on Earth, researchers are examining their effects on creatures big and small. A new study finds mosquito larvae may be resilient to microplastic consumption, but further research is needed.
Vitamin B1 is Not a Mosquito Repellent. So Why Do Doctors Prescribe It?
Some faulty science in the 1940s gave rise to the myth that consuming a vitamin could deter mosquito bites. A new review compiles the decades of scientific studies disproving the idea and explores why it still persists.