Saturday, July 23, 2011

Nastier mosquitos around now

From the Wall Street Journal:

The Asian tiger mosquito, named for its distinctive black-and-white striped body, is a relatively new species to the U.S. that is more vicious, harder to kill and, unlike most native mosquitoes, bites during the daytime. It also prefers large cities over rural or marshy areas—thus earning the nickname among entomologists as "the urban mosquito."

"Part of the reason it is called 'tiger' is also because it is very aggressive," says Dina Fonseca, an associate professor of entomology at Rutgers University. "You can try and swat it all you want, but once it's on you, it doesn't let go. Even if it goes away, it will be back for a bite."

Dr. Fonseca is leading a U.S. Department of Agriculture effort to develop a cost-effective method to control the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) population. The university is currently focusing on using larvacides, which render larvae incapable of growing into adults.

Since urban areas tend to be warmer—often by 5 to 10 degrees—than rural areas, cities are seeing tiger mosquitoes earlier and sticking around longer, often into October.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Part of the reason it is called 'tiger' is also because it is very aggressive," says Dina Fonseca, an associate professor of entomology at Rutgers University. "You can try and swat it all you want, but once it's on you, it doesn't let go. Even if it goes away, it will be back for a bite."

SOUNDS LIKE STEVE BEHAR TO ME!!! HELL BE BACK TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF ED BRAUNSTEIN NEXT TIME AROUND!!!!

Anonymous said...

your right, steve does'nt let go!!! he will clean albany for all new yorkers

Joe said...

These are all over the North Shore especially from College Point to Manhasset. Yes real nasty.
They bite as soon as they land on you even in full sun afternoon. I found out picking some of my tomatos for lunch.
A bumper crop of green heads is also going on. The dam city need to spray those marshlands.

Are the waiting for and outbreak of dengue or malaria in Queens ?

No doubt the mayor will blame it on all the junkyard tires in Willets point. Fact is the Willets Point shops store tires stacked and dry inside

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Steve spends all his time promoting himself on this blog.

Anonymous said...

12 countries have begun using DDT ,because approximately 800,000. people (mostly children) have died from malaria prior to 2008. (from the World Health Org.)

Anonymous said...

I was wondering what these bugs were that have been showing up in my pools skimmer.

Mike Bloomsquito said...

Would you like a buzzzzzzzzzzz...

Joe said...

pools skimmer
-----------
I actually haven't found "tiger mosquito's" in my pool skimmer yet (then again my pools in Mattituck), Asian Beatles and longhorns yes.

Yeah you cant miss tigers, the white stripes "sometimes dots" are rather luminescent on a flat deep black body & legs.

Anonymous said...

Look at all of those "wonderful" Asiatic contributions to America.

Coming soon to your local neighborhood:

"The Asian Long Horned Beetle".

It's sequel:
"The Asian Tiger Mosquitto".

Does anyone have a good recipe for those predatory Oriental snake head fish in Flushing Meadow Lake?

Anonymous said...

Not unless Ed Braunstein unzips his fly!

Anonymous said...

Really now....
LOL....Citizens To Elect Behar....is Queens Crap the best you can afford for your campaign ads?

Anonymous said...

And you can sit back and inhale the toxic Malathion spray Joe!

Maybe you already have.
That would explain your cranial debility.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that everything from china is destructive??? Tiger Mosquitos, Longhorn beetle, ash borer, H1N1, Swine Flu, Lead painted toys, etc, etc.


How did they get over 1 billion people over there if everything there kills you???

Gary the Agnostic said...

Because all of the stuff that kills you is over here!

Unknown said...

just killed one thats been terrorizing me for days. I don't even want to think about how many others are right behind it. :(