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Mosquitoes
- Mosquitoes have had a big impact on human history -
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Summary: Mosquitoes are probably the most important of all insects in terms of their impacts on humans. Mosquito-borne diseases still account for millions of deaths annually world-wide as well as contributing to global poverty.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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 Mosquitoes are small, delicate flies that have had a huge impact on human history. Their extremely annoying bite carries with it the possibility of disease. Malaria, yellow fever, and, more recently, West Nile virus are a few of the better known mosquito-transmitted human diseases. Malaria, alone, continues to kill millions of people each year worldwide and contributes to global poverty by weakening entire populations. Protection from mosquitoes involves control of larvae and adults, elimination of temporary breeding sites and use of repellents and sleeping nets.
Other animals suffer from mosquito-borne illness as well. West Nile virus is often fatal to the birds that harbor it and heartworm is a very serious and often fatal mosquito-borne disease mainly of dogs.
Mosquito larvae develop in standing water and breathe air either through siphon tubes (right) or by periodic trips to the surface. Females require a blood-meal to produce healthy eggs. During feeding, disease organisms may be transmitted to the host animal in mosquito saliva.
Mosquitoes lay eggs and larvae develop in standing water. Even the water in small puddles or ornamental ponds and faulty rain gutters can support many larvae. Eliminate standing water where possible and treat water that can not be drained such as ponds, watering tanks, etc.
common misspellings: mosquitos, mosquito repelants, mossie, skeeters
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Yellow fever mosquito larvae (top) suspended, head down, from water surface by siphon tubes. Line drawing (bottom) of adult mosquitoes.
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A printable guide to mosquitoes. You'll need Acrobat Reader or equivalent to open this pdf file.
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The Pest Management Store
Identification guides, reference and gardening books, etc.
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"The American Plague delves into America's not-so-distant past to recount one of the greatest epidemics of our time. It tells the story of the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis, Tennessee-one that would cost more lives than the Chicago fire, San Francisco earthquake and Johnstown flood combined-and, it is a narrative journey into Cuba and West Africa, where a handful of doctors would change medical history." [Book description from Amazon.com]
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as well (sorry, but these are necessary).
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