Tag

Mosquitoes

All articles tagged with #mosquitoes

health10 days ago•4 min saved

Chikungunya risk expands across Europe as climate warms, study finds

A new study shows warmer European temperatures could enable chikungunya transmission by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito for six months of the year in southern Europe and several months in much of western Europe, lowering the transmission threshold to about 13–14°C (down from 16–18°C). This broadens areas and seasons at risk, with outbreaks historically sparked by travel but potentially escalating locally as mosquitoes move northward. The finding underscores the need for surveillance, mosquito-control measures, and personal protection to prevent bites; the UK has yet to see local transmission, though imported cases rose in 2025.

via The Guardian|

#chikungunya #climate-change #europe

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Deforestation Pushes Mosquitoes Toward Humans for Blood

A Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution study in Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic Forest remnants shows mosquitoes feeding on humans more often than on other animals, likely because biodiversity loss reduces alternative hosts. From 1,714 mosquitoes across 52 species, 24 blood meals were identified, with 18 traced to humans. The findings suggest that host availability and proximity drive this shift, increasing the risk of pathogen transmission (dengue, Zika, Yellow Fever, Mayaro, Chikungunya) and underscoring the need for targeted surveillance and ecosystem-aware disease control.

via SciTechDaily|

#biodiversity-loss #deforestation #human-blood-meals

local-news1 month ago•21 min saved

El Segundo Battles Nighttime Mosquito Influx Near Hyperion Plant

El Segundo residents have faced weeks of unbearable mosquito infestations since November, with authorities pointing to standing water from recent rains and a land strip adjacent to LADWP’s Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant as possible sources of the Aedes aegypti surge. Officials, including Hyperion plant staff and county vector control, are dewatering and treating affected areas while continuing to track sources, as residents describe living in an “absolute nightmare” with sleep disrupted.

via Patch|

#el-segundo #hyperion-water-reclamation-plant #ladwp

us-news1 month ago•26 min saved

El Segundo Battles Months-Long Mosquito Infestation

A mosquito infestation has overwhelmed the El Segundo area near Los Angeles for roughly two months, with residents reporting relentless bites, nights disrupted by swarms, and mosquitoes invading homes despite preventive measures. City officials say they’re coordinating with Los Angeles Vector Control to identify sources and are focusing containment efforts on six blocks still under siege.

via New York Post|

#california #insects #los-angeles

science1 month ago•38 min saved

Forest loss nudges Atlantic Forest mosquitoes toward human blood

New research links deforestation in the Atlantic Forest to mosquitoes increasingly feeding on humans, suggesting biodiversity decline and habitat destruction push mosquitoes to human blood and raise the risk of new disease vectors; reversing habitat destruction could help, but the reversibility of this shift remains uncertain.

via Yahoo|

#atlantic-forest #biodiversity-loss #deforestation

science1 month ago•2 min saved

Deforestation Drives Brazilian Mosquitoes to Bite Humans More Often

Brazilian researchers found Atlantic Forest mosquitoes increasingly prefer human blood as biodiversity declines from deforestation; among more than 1,700 mosquitoes sampled, 24 had human DNA from 18 different people, suggesting humans may be the main blood source in disturbed areas and potentially altering disease risk. The study calls for improved sampling methods and further analysis.

via ScienceAlert|

#biodiversity #brazil #deforestation

health1 month ago•2 min saved

Scientists Warn of Global Spread of Disease-Carrying Insects

A study in Nature Communications warns that the global spread of mosquitoes through trade and travel has increased significantly since the 1950s, raising the risk of vector-borne diseases like West Nile virus and encephalitis, which pose serious health and economic challenges. The expansion is driven by global shipping, trade routes, and climate change, emphasizing the need for preventive measures such as protective clothing and eliminating standing water.

via Yahoo|

#disease-spread #global-trade #health

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Male Mosquitoes Can Also Feed on Blood

Recent research reveals that male mosquitoes can feed on blood under certain conditions, challenging long-held beliefs and raising concerns about their potential role in disease transmission, although further studies are needed to understand the implications fully.

via Gizmodo|

#bloodfeeding #male-mosquitoes #mosquitoes

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Mosquitoes Use Human Scent Like GPS to Find Victims

A study reveals that malaria-carrying mosquitoes use human scent, particularly volatile organic compounds and skin acids, as GPS-like signals to locate their hosts, with scent being the primary cue over heat and vision, which can inform new mosquito control strategies.

via Earth.com|

#chemical-signals #human-scent #malaria

health2 months ago•2 min saved

Experts Warn of Rising Threat from 'Deadliest Animal on the Planet'

Warmer and wetter weather due to climate change is increasing mosquito populations and altering their behavior, leading to longer mosquito seasons and the emergence of hybrid species that spread deadly diseases like West Nile Virus, raising significant public health concerns.

via Yahoo|

#climate-change #diseases #health

health3 months ago•2 min saved

Researchers Warn of Surge in Dangerous Disease, Now 50-100 Times More Prevalent

Researchers warn that the mosquito species Aedes aegypti has become 50 to 100 times more common in transmitting diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya due to its evolution and global spread, driven by climate change and urbanization, posing increased health risks worldwide.

via Yahoo|

#aedes-aegypti #dengue #disease-spread

health4 months ago•2 min saved

Health officials warn as deadly disease hits popular tourist spot

Health officials in Malaga, Spain, have issued a warning after mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus were found near homes, prompting a four-week alert. The virus can be deadly in rare cases and symptoms may last months, with cases increasing across Europe and the US, likely due to climate change. Preventative measures include avoiding mosquito bites through protective clothing, screens, and repellents.

via Yahoo|

#disease-warning #health #mosquitoes

science4 months ago•2 min saved

Glowing Sperm Unveils Mosquito Mating Secrets

A study using fluorescent sperm and high-resolution filming revealed that female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes actively participate in mating by signaling readiness, challenging the previous view that males are solely in charge, which could impact strategies for controlling disease-carrying mosquitoes.

via Nature|

#aedes-aegypti #disease-transmission #fluorescent-sperm

world4 months ago•0 min saved

First Mosquitoes Detected in Iceland Amid Climate Change

Iceland has detected its first mosquitoes, with three sightings confirmed, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on the country's ecosystem.

via The Washington Post|

#biodiversity #climate-change #iceland

science4 months ago•2 min saved

First Mosquitoes Detected in Iceland Amid Climate Warming

Iceland has recorded its first-ever presence of mosquitoes, likely arriving via freight and surviving due to rising temperatures caused by climate change, marking a significant ecological shift in the Nordic country.

via NPR|

#climate-change #global-warming #iceland