Mosquitoes

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the most common species in the U.S., love everything about humans. They love our body heat and odors, which enable them to find us. They love to feed on our blood to make their eggs mature. They even love all the standing water that we create. Uncovered containers, old tires and junk piles collect water and are perfect for breeding.And with the advent of warm weather…

NASA satellites have emerged as a vital tool in the fight against malaria outbreaks in the Amazon Rainforest, where the disease poses a significant threat to people living in that region. University researchers, in collaboration with US space agency NASA and the Peruvian government, are leveraging data from Earth-observing satellites to forecast malaria outbreaks months in advance, ultimately aiming to prevent them from occurring.Using NASA Satellites to Predict Malaria Outbreaks:In the battle against malaria, which can…

As It Happens6:28Why do these mosquitos keep perching on the nostrils of frogs who want to eat them?John Gould had been snapping pictures of mosquitoes on frogs for years before he noticed a trend — the bloodsuckers always seem to land right on the amphibians' noses."You would think that a frog would be the worst place to land, because frogs love to eat mosquitoes," Gould, a behavioural biologist at Australia's University of Newcastle, told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. Nevertheless, Gould has collected more than a dozen…

We’ve all been bitten by a mosquito at one point or another. And, if you have, then that mosquito was a female, as male mosquitos don’t have strong enough mouth parts to pierce the skin and suck our blood. Instead, they survive off plant nectar. However, newly discovered amber fragments have revealed that mosquito evolution may have changed how these insects survive and what they eat.Mosquitos have survived for millions of years. We’ve discovered several of these little blood-sucking insects inside fossilized…

In a groundbreaking study reported in Current Biology, researchers have found the earliest-known fossil mosquitoes in Lebanese amber, revealing that ancient male mosquitoes likely fed on blood. Credit: Current Biology/Azar et al. Researchers have unearthed the oldest fossil mosquitoes in Lebanese amber, showing that ancient male mosquitoes were likely blood-feeders. This finding from the Lower Cretaceous period sheds new light on the evolution of mosquitoes and their relationship with flowering plants. Researchers…

Have you noticed fewer mosquitoes in your community this summer? You aren't alone. Taz Stuart, an entomologist who works with the N.W.T. government, said mosquito populations throughout the territory are, generally speaking, lower than average. That's because most types of mosquitoes "love water," and conditions in parts of the territory have been hot and dry instead. It's still early in the season, though, he said."If you could give me a crystal ball and tell me when it's going to rain, where and how much, then I can…

. It works on mosquitoes, too, and this Amazon Prime Day you can pick one up for a deep discount!The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Rechargeable E55 creates a 20-foot no-fly-zone of protection against mosquitoes, making it perfect for the backyard, poolside, patio, deck, and more. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it can run for up to 5.5 hours per charge, and it can be repelling insects within 15 minutes of you turning it on. There's no fuel to monitor and replace, and it emits a scent-free repellent that…

Scientists at the University of California San Diego have developed a mosquito suppression system, Ifegenia, which uses CRISPR technology to eliminate female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the primary transmitters of malaria in Africa. The system disrupts a gene that controls the mosquitoes’ sexual development, thereby halting the spread of the disease. The researchers are optimistic that this approach, which is safe, controllable, and scalable, can be adapted to suppress other disease-spreading species.As envisioned, this…

A team of microbiologists in Australia have found that a bacteria being carried by certain mosquitos, can make flesh in living organisms rot away. Called the M. ulcerans, it causes Buruli ulcer, a chronic disease that affects the skin, and sometimes bones as well…

Researchers have developed a surfactant spray that counters the mosquito’s natural water-resisting properties, offering a safe and effective means of taking down mosquitoes without using insecticides. The spray could be used to protect people from the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.Mosquitoes are known to be responsible for spreading potentially deadly diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and Zika virus, and climate change and urbanization have expanded mosquitoes’ habitat, enabling them to…