When it comes to the war against pests, knowledge is key. There’s so many various insects, parasitic and otherwise, that it can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re going to focus on informing the average joe to the best of our ability. Today we’re going to start with one of Florida’s most pervasive and dangerous pests. The mosquito has been the bane of the southeast since man first reached the swampy south. Today we’ll discuss two different Florida Mosquito Species, and a few methods of mosquito prevention.
Florida Mosquito Species: An Overview
When it comes to the flying, buzzing pest that is the mosquito, all of them are dangerous. But some carry worse diseases than others, and you need to know what exactly you’re dealing with. So to begin with, we’ll start with one of the most well known and dangerous of the bunch.
Aedes aegypti
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, has been a problem for Florida for hundreds of years. This buzzing biter originated in Africa and was brought to the U.S. through exploration and colonization. As it’s non-scientific name may suggest, this bug is the primary culprit in spreading yellow fever. This disease is prevalent in tropical South America and Africa and emerges during the warm summer months. This mosquito is a container-inhabiting species. That means that it breeds mostly in unused flowerpots, spare tires, untreated pools, and all manner of standing water.
These parasites thrive in urban areas in close contact with people. That’s what makes them so good at spreading their diseases. The females primarily blood feed on humans to produce eggs and are most active during the day.
You can recognize this mosquito quite easily. The adults are small to medium-sized for their species. They have white scales on the surface of their body, and a white stripe down the middle. Its legs are striped, and the bulk of its body is dark brown to black. The females are the bigger of the sexes. They have small palps tipped with silver or white scales. Males have longer antennae, and females have shorter hairs instead. The proboscis of both is dark and has two clusters of white scales.
Life Cycle
The lifecycle of the yellow fever mosquito is similar to many other insect pests. To start, the female produces on average one to two hundred eggs per patch after taking on a full blood meal. The eggs are laid on damp surfaces in areas likely to flood, like tree holes or man-made containers. These eggs then hatch into mosquito larvae, often called “wigglers”. Wigglers breath oxygen through a siphon on their backsides that’s held above the water’s surface. The rest of their body hangs vertically below. These larvae feed on organic particles of matter beneath the water such as algae.
They then enter the pupal stage. Mosquito pupae are unique in that they are both mobile and respond to stimuli. They do not feed and take about two days to develop into adults. They emerge by filling their abdomen with air to split open the pupal case and emerge head first.
Aedes albopictus
The aedes albopictus is known more commonly by the name Asian tiger mosquito. The Asian tiger mosquito was first documented in the United States in Texas in 1985. A year later, it was found in Florida at a tire dump site near Jacksonville. Since that time it’s spread rapidly through the southeast. It can now be found in all sixty-seven of Florida’s counties.
The arrival of this pest has actually been linked to the decline of the yellow fever mosquito. This competitive exclusion is likely due to a combination of the interspecific matings that happen on occasion, and the superiority of the Asian Tiger mosquito’s larval resource competition.
This mosquito is also a spreader of many viruses. These include dengue fever and Eastern equine encephalitis virus. This mosquito’s life cycle is associated with the human habitat, and also breeds in any container with standing water. The Asian tiger mosquito is also a daytime feeder as well, and can be found in the shade where it rests in shrubs near the ground. It’s feeding time peaks in the morning and late afternoon. It’s an aggressive biter that targets humans as well as domestic and wild animals.
The asian tiger mosquito is another easy to recognize pest. They have shiny, black scales and silver-white scales all over their bodies. The bulk of them is black, while white stripes decorate their body. The males feed on nectar. The females have the standard mouthparts to suck blood. Their abdomen also narrows at the end, aiding in their distinct look.
The life cycle of this mosquito is almost identicle to the yellow fever mosquito.
Florida Mosquito Species: Management
Mosquito control in mass scale for Aedes species first began in the early 1900s. But it’s never quite worked as a whole, so responsibility still falls on you to keep your home and family safe. The most successful and cost-effective method for preventing infestation is still a simple one. Reduce populations by reducing standing water. Turn over empty flowerpots, maintain your swimming pools, and remove old tires. Steps as simple as this can see your property’s mosquito population never truely get established. Clean your gutters as well, since organic matter caught up there allows water to pool and mosquitos to breed. Remember, empty cans, junkyards, open dumps, and any container that can fill with water will easily allow mosquitos to breed and propagate on your property.