Looking over my shoulder and out the window reveals a cloudy day. And with cloudy days usually comes the rain. If you’ve lived in Florida for more than a few years, then you probably know that rain brings something else. It’s amazing for your garden, your flowers will bloom, birds and cute animals will drink from the leftover puddles. It’s great! But there’s one thing that always booms after the rain, and that’s mosquitoes. And speaking of mosquitoes, it seems like we have more “great” news here in the sunshine state. We’re looking down the barrel of a new invasive Florida mosquito species.
So what we’ll do is discuss the new mosquito, the threat it poses, and some things you can do to make your home less appealing for breeding mosquitoes.
New Invasive Florida Mosquito: Overview
Alright, if you frequent websites with insect news, this probably isn’t a shock. Florida is home to a horrific amount of invasive species at this point, mostly due to the pet trade and the ports. Still, it’s not very good news when we have yet another knocking at our door. And this one’s name seems to be Aedes scapularis.
These new invasive Florida mosquitoes have ironically been detected a few times in the Florida Keys back in the ’40s, but in the past few months, it’s spread northward through Broward and Miami-Dade.
All of our invasive mosquito species are incredible vectors for disease, and this one is no different. In particular, this mosquito can transmit yellow fever easily to humans, and heartworms to dogs. Not only that, but it can very easily spread the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus to horses. And unlike some of our invaders, this species is very adaptable to living in new and different environments.
Combine that with its penchant for spreading disease, and you can probably see why this is cause for extreme concern. So far, the mosquito has been located in areas bordering the Gulf of Mexico, including coastal areas of the U.S. Gulf states, mainland Florida, and parts of the Caribbean and South America.
How to Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Well, when it comes to keeping invasive species out of Florida, there’s not much you’re going to be able to do. But there are steps that you can take to keep these buzzing pests off of your particular property. And the real, main key part of this is going to be dealing with standing water and the things that collect them.
For starters, make sure that your garbage cans are taken care of. When you buy an outdoor garbage container, drill a few very small holes in the bottle that let any accumulated fluid drain out. You’d be shocked at how shallow the water really needs to be for mosquitoes to breed in it. On top of that, make sure to get tightly fitting and locking lids. Not only will that save you from mosquito troubles, but you’ll also be able to keep things like raccoons out.
New Invasive Florida Mosquitoes: Standing water is the enemy!
This goes double for other sources of water that may be scattered around your yard. For example, an old tire can fill up with more than enough water for an entire generation of mosquitoes. Clear out your bird baths weekly as well, tip them over, let them dry out in the sun, and give them a good wipe-down with an old cloth or T-shirt and you should be able to knock loose and rid it of any larvae that may be living there. Consider getting a bubbler or water wiggle for your bird bath as well, as mosquitoes have a harder time laying eggs in moving water.
Because of these new invasive Florida mosquitoes, at least a few times every week it’s good to take a walk on your property and deal with any standing water issues you may have. From small holes in the ground that need filling with dirt, to that old broken down car you haven’t quite gotten around to tossing. Basically, leave no stone unturned. Even inside your home, things like leaky pipes under your sink can be an inviting love nest for this blood-sucking menace. Clean and clean well!
Other Invasive Species
This new invasive Florida mosquito is far from the only contender in that arena, though. So let’s go through a few of the other types you may find out there.
Let’s start with a classic: The anopheles. This is the mosquito known most commonly for its ability to transmit malaria. In fact, this may not be a new invasive Florida mosquito but it’s the primary vector for that disease. It’s even a very prolific transmitter of heartworm to dogs. The bodies of this mosquito range from dark brown to black in coloration. And when they rest, their stomach points upward, rather than being even with their surrounding surfaces like the majority of mosquitoes. They like to hang out in the low levels of thick plants and adore tall grass. These bloodsuckers are active during nighttime and tend to be leg and ankle biters because they fly low to the ground. They don’t like low humidity, which is why you’ll find them more often at night time.
Aedes Mosquitoes: A fan favorite
Then you have the invasive and prolific Aedes species of mosquitoes. This includes the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito. They’ve been detected as far as San Diego now but made their splash with the media down here in sunny Florida. They cause dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and the ever-famous Zika virus. All three species of this mosquito are small, black bugs with white stripes all over their body. Unlike the species mentioned above, they are daytime biters.
These guys can breed in less than an inch of water, so you better double-check every nook and cranny both inside and outside of your home to make sure there’s nothing available for them. In the summer they can go from egg to adult in less than a week, so stay on top of your cleaning…or else!
