Dave Macchia
January 12, 2022
Mosquitoes, What is causing the increase in mosquito populations?
climate change, mosquito populations, mosquitoes, urbanization
Does it feel like there are more mosquitoes in Massachusetts than ever? If you thought that 2021 the mosquito apocalypse, you are not wrong. You might have found yourself swatting and dodging mosquitoes every time you ventured outdoors last year. And the thing is, you might have even noticed that there were more mosquitoes all the way into fall. Mosquito populations are expanding and the timeline formerly thought of as mosquito season is also growing longer.
Dave Macchia
December 28, 2021
Do mosquito babies have our DNA?, Mosquitoes, Why do mosquitoes need blood?
mosquito facts, mosquito fun facts, mosquito questions and answers, mosquitoes
If you become nauseated at the thought of blood, you wouldn’t make a great mosquito. Well, female mosquito anyway. Mammalian blood is not just life-sustaining for female mosquitoes. It is used to create new life. Male mosquitoes spend their lives feeding on nectar and plant sap, while females are mostly out for blood. Female mosquitoes seek out their blood meal in order to fertilize their eggs. Human blood contains essential nutrients that help mosquito eggs grow. Among those nutrients are amino acids and proteins. Females lay their clutches in standing water, and those eggs will become adults in about 8 to 10 days. That is potentially 100 to 200 new mosquitoes buzzing around your property, seeking blood, and procreating!
Dave Macchia
June 4, 2021
Mosquitoes, When is mosquito season?
mosquitoes, new england mosquito season, when is mosquito season
The northeastern United States is a high-risk mosquito-borne illness region. Is there a defined mosquito season?
If being in the field of mosquito bite prevention has taught me one thing, it is that most people inaccurately label summertime as “mosquito season.” While we do see more mosquitoes in the summer, this is not mosquito season. Nature brings them out when the time is just right – but not only in the summer.
Dave Macchia
February 4, 2021
Mosquitoes, Ticks, Will mosquitoes survive snowfall?, Will snowfall kill ticks?
mosquitoes, mosquitoes and ticks, ticks, will mosquitoes survive snowfall, will snowfall kill ticks
With nearly 53″ of snowfall this winter, Worcester is the reigning snowiest city in the United States. Central Massachusetts is no stranger to winter snow. What else is prevalent in our area, outside of winter? Mosquitoes and ticks! Is the 2021 nor’easter a good thing for these Central Mass pests? You might be surprised at the answer.
Dave Macchia
January 19, 2021
Aedes vittatus, Mosquitoes
Aedes vittatus, Chikungunya, Dengue fever, mosquitoes, yellow fever, Zika
A mosquito trap is set at Guantanamo Bay detention camp every week. Typically close to human sleeping quarters, the trap can catch up to 3,000 mosquitoes in only one week. Captured mosquitoes are sorted and sent to Maryland for identification. Researchers at Fort Meade are so versed in mosquito species identification, they can identify them by sight. When an unidentifiable mosquito is found, it is sent for DNA testing. This happened in January 2019, when a strange-looking female mosquito was found. Like the Asian Tiger mosquito, she was very distinct in appearance. She had marked white spots on her abdomen.
Dave Macchia
November 27, 2020
mosquito surveillance, Mosquitoes
Central Mass mosquitoes, mosquito, mosquito identification, mosquitoes
These days, there is an app for everything. In times past, you might have photographed a mosquito to identify it. Scientists are readying a new identification app, which doesn’t require you phone camera. It uses your phone’s microphone. Ingenuity has delivered a crowd-sourced method of mosquito identification, which can help determine the type of mosquitoes that are in your backyard. Over the years, mosquito studies have proved costly and time-consuming. Scientists usually trap and study mosquito species. A phone app is about to be released, which will allow us to help identify the types of mosquitoes we have flying around your home, by sound.
Dave Macchia
November 11, 2020
Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Light, Mosquitoes
are mosquitoes attracted to light, how do mosquitoes use light, mosquitoes, what is the best way to control mosquitoes
Have you ever wondered why you still have mosquitoes, even though you have a bug zapper? Are mosquitoes attracted to light? While may bugs have a natural attraction to light, either for help in navigation or as a source of…
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Dave Macchia
October 23, 2020
Do mosquitoes have blood?, Mosquitoes
do mosquitoes have blood, hemolymph, mosquitoes
We all know how much mosquitoes love our blood. Last week I wrote about how they love the salty flavor of human blood. But do mosquitoes have blood? Mosquitoes are arachnids and invertebrates. Mosquitoes have blood – of sorts! Invertebrates…
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Dave Macchia
September 4, 2020
Do all mosquitoes bite humans?, Mosquitoes
do all mosquitoes bite humans?, do all mosquitoes bite?, female mosquitoes, male mosquitoes, mosquitoes
Mosquitoes! We go to war with these tiny blood suckers every warm season. Are all those annoying mosquitoes only females, or do all mosquitoes bite humans? Male mosquitoes do not bite humans or animals. They feed on nectar alone. If a male mosquito is close to you, it will simply be annoying. That said, male mosquitoes typically avoid contact with humans. They don’t need us after all. If you are experiencing swarms of mosquitoes, they are likely all female.
Dave Macchia
December 19, 2019
Culex pipiens, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Mosquito Control, Mosquito Control Central Mass, mosquitoes of Central Mass
Central Mass mosquito control, Central Mass mosquito protection, mosquito control, mosquito fun facts, mosquitoes
There’s nothing fun about mosquitoes. They are a nuisance at the very least, and carriers of deadly diseases at worst. Did you know that the word, “mosquito,” is Spanish for “little fly?” What are some other mosquito fun facts? Across the globe, there are more than 3,500 known mosquito species. Compared to the number of species found in Central Mass, that number is almost unbelievable! Massachusetts is known to host more than 50 species of mosquitoes. West Virginia has the least mosquito species at about 25. Texas…oh, poor Texas has 85 mosquito species!
