Latest Mosquito Stories
In the battle between insect predators and their prey, chemical signals called kairomones serve as an early-warning system. Pervasively emitted by the predators, the compounds are detected by their prey, and can even trigger adaptations, such a change in body size or armor, that help protect the prey. But as widespread as kairomones are in the insect world, their chemical identity has remained largely unknown. New research by Rockefeller University's Joel E. Cohen and colleagues at the...
An estimated 5 percent of the Key West, Fla., population "“ over 1,000 people "“ showed evidence of recent exposure to dengue virus in 2009, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health.After three initial locally acquired cases of dengue were reported in 2009, scientists from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health conducted a study to estimate the potential exposure of the Key West population to dengue...
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health reminds Pennsylvanians to take precautions to reduce exposure to mosquitoes as the season arrives for West Nile virus, or WNV, infections. This year, mosquito sampling is showing earlier and more frequent evidence of WNV circulation in Southeastern Pennsylvania than in recent years. "All Pennsylvanians should take steps to reduce breeding sites for mosquitoes around their homes, and use insect...
Sewage that overflows into urban creeks and streams during periods of heavy rain can promote the spread of West Nile virus, a study led by Emory University finds.The analysis of six years of data showed that people living near creeks with sewage overflows in lower-income neighborhoods of Southeast Atlanta had a seven times higher risk for West Nile virus than the rest of the city."The infection rate for mosquitoes, birds and humans is strongly associated with their proximity to a creek...
Research could provide more effective treatment against West Nile VirusProtecting ourselves from backyard mosquito bites may come down to leaving the vacuuming for later, a study from York University shows.Rather than vacuuming the grass clippings out of catch basins before adding treatments to control mosquitoes, municipalities should leave the organic waste in place, the research found."Catch basins are a permanent source of mosquitoes on every street. By putting S-methoprene in cleaned...
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Weather permitting, the Department of Environmental Protection and the West Nile staff in Adams County will apply treatments the evening of Wednesday, June 23, in Butler and Mount Joy townships to control adult mosquito populations. High populations of adult mosquitoes capable of transmitting West Nile virus have been detected in these townships. The treatments will be administered during the evening hours with truck-mounted equipment to...
ROSELLE, Ill., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarke, a global environmental products and services company, is honored today at the 2010 U.S. EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for their new Natular(TM) larvicide, which uses the active ingredient spinosad to control mosquito larvae in aquatic habitats. Clarke is recognized for developing a novel, patent-pending plaster matrix that releases optimal levels of product during times when mosquitoes breed. Clarke will receive the award...
ATLANTA, May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether your Memorial Day weekend plans include a picnic in the park, a backyard barbeque, or lakeside leisure, pests are sure to attend. According to Atlanta-based pest control leader Orkin, effective pest control starts with understanding pest behavior. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100525/CL09783 ) "Memorial Day unofficially kicks off the outdoor season and - in many areas like the Southeast - peak pest season," says Ron Harrison, Ph.D.,...
Tips for protecting your skin this summer YONKERS, N.Y., May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Memo to beach bums: get ready to pump it and spray it, and don't apply it in the wind. New tests of sunscreens by Consumer Reports Health reveal that four spray-on sunscreens provided the best protection from the sun's Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The ratings are available in the July issue of the magazine and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org. The magazine also looks at...
KOLDING, Demark, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Bestnet Europe Ltd. today announced the international launch of Netprotect® A, a new design for mosquito nets that makes using a Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Net easier, especially in homes with living spaces that are not compatible with traditionally designed nets. Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Nets (LLINs) are a vital tool in the combat against malaria. Unfortunately crowded living spaces in sub-Saharan Africa often limit the...
Latest Mosquito Reference Libraries
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease with a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes and is found in tropical and subtropical areas in South America and Africa, but not in Asia. Primates and a few kinds of mosquitoes are the only known hosts. The origin of the disease is most likely Africa. From there it was introduced to South America through the slave trade in the 16th century. There...
Aedes albopictus (Family Culicidae), the Asian Tiger Mosquito or Forest Day Mosquito, is characterized by its black and white striped legs and small, black and white body. It was native to south-east Asia, and occupied a habitat that spread from Madagascar eastward to New Guinea, and north to the latitude of Korea. The typical member of the Aedes albopictus has a length of about 5 mm. As with other members of the mosquito family, the female is outfitted with an elongated proboscis that she...
The crane flies (Tipulidae) are a family of insects that closely resemble giant mosquitoes. Like the mosquito, they are in the order Diptera (flies) and are sometimes called mosquito eaters, mosquito hawks, or skeeter eaters. They are also one of three unrelated arthropods named Daddy long-legs. The other two are the harvestmen and vibrating, cellar or house spider. As such, Crane Flies are wrapped up in the myth of being the most poisonous spider, but unable to bite humans. This is...
The mosquito is a member of the family Culicidae. These insects have a pair of scaled wings, a pair of halteres, a slender body, and long legs. Only the females of most mosquito species suck blood from other animals. Size varies but is rarely greater than 0.6 inch (15 mm). Mosquitoes weigh only about 0.03 to 0.04 grain (2 to 2.5 mg). They can fly at about 0.9 to 1.6 mph (1.5 to 2.5 km/h) and most species are nocturnal. Mosquitoes are believed to have evolved 170 million years ago during...
