Wet weather and cluttered properties can lead to mosquito population growth.
They bite. They itch. And some carry diseases. Mosquitoes can ruin barbecues, fishing trips and days on the golf course. But each mosquito genus--Aedes, Anopheles and Culex--also carries diseases, making them a public health concern as well as a nuisance. Each genus has its own habitat. When those habitats change, whether through natural or human intervention, so do mosquito populations.
Increase Causes
Mosquitoes need water and moisture for egg laying and hatching. When springs have cooler, wetter weather than normal it is easier for mosquitoes to grow in number by giving them more time to develop. For example, Saginaw, Michigan, saw six times as many mosquitoes as normal in spring 2010 after heavy rainfall in May. Aedes mosquitoes especially tend to live in flood waters. When heavy rains lead into dry spells, Culex mosquitoes also breed in standing water. The insects can also nest in yard clutter, such as weeds and spare tires. When properties begin collecting these items, the mosquitoes can increase.
Pros
Mosquitoes help ecosystems maintain balance. They are an essential food source for many birds, bats, spiders and other insects, according to the University of Arizona. Removing mosquitoes from an ecosystem would remove a link from the bottom of the chain, potentially causing it to collapse.
Cons
Along with being nuisances, mosquitoes are vectors for potentially fatal illnesses. The insects, through biting multiple animals and people, can transmit diseases like malaria and yellow fever. The Centers for Disease Control reported 720 cases of West Nile in 2009 in the U.S., 32 of which were fatal.
Government Control
Mosquito control programs began in the early 1900s, and they have since expanded to the federal level through the CDC and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Control officials, in order to be successful, must apply insecticides with proper equipment at proper times and locations, depending on the region. Officials spray inside planes and helicopters to prevent spreading eggs through travel.
Home Control
Homeowners can buy insecticides, citronella candles and other mosquito control products to ward off the insects. But there are other practical steps for controlling their populations. The University of Kentucky suggests reducing breeding sites by disposing of tires, cleaning gutters, refilling bird baths and getting rid of any other containers and traps for standing water. Draining ditches and irrigating lawns can also prevent standing water. Sealing windows and other home entrances for mosquitoes can prevent mosquitoes from coming inside. To keep them from biting, repellents with Deet work best, according to the university. However, children should avoid applying it to their hands.
Monitoring
The EPA and CDC, as well as many state and local government agencies, monitor mosquito populations and the spread of diseases like West Nile. Mosquito experts also monitor weather patterns and study topographical maps to determine larval populations, according to the EPA. When officials detect large mosquito larvae populations, they can go in and spray for them or alter the environment, often through cleanup, to prevent them from hatching.
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