Mosquito Diseases

July 31st, 2012

 

In addition to being a valuable research tool, used by entomologists and mosquito control agencies worldwide for trapping and surveillance purposes, mosquito traps are now recognized as an important device homeowners can use in their fight to help reduce backyard mosquitoes and the risk from the diseases they carry. 

Notable rises of Dengue Fever in parts of Latin America and Australia together with the first documented outbreak in Florida(2010) in 75 years are warning signs that global warming is creating new breeding grounds for diseases long confined to subtropical climates.  Chikungunya disease, once a sporadic problem in Africa and Asia has been expanding its range with outbreaks documented in Italy and France.  And Laura Harrington, a medical entomologist at Cornell University, has warned New York City could be next.  That’s because, one of the mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus, the Asian tiger, is already well established in the New York/New Jersey area.  

The scope and application for the use of mosquito traps has further increased as the benefits of providing potentially safer environments for staff and patrons have been identified by various businesses and organizations who have also implemented the use of traps for mosquito control.

  • Golf Courses
  • Horse Stables
  • Plant Nurseries
  • Resorts
  • Schools
  • Kennels
  • Daycare centres
  • Marinas
  • Zoos
  • Restaurants
  • Swimming Pool & Aquatic Complexes
  • Theme Parks

While eradicating all the mosquitoes in the world is highly desirable,  it’s probably not realistic. However private individuals can make a difference in their own back yards with a DIY approach to mosquito control.  Daily trapping during the season is aimed at disrupting breeding cycles thereby reducing mosquito populations.  Only female mosquitoes bite and a single female mosquito is capable of laying thousands of eggs during her life time.  Consider trapping as another method of  ‘birth control’ .  Because population control is certainly one of the most effective ways of managing mosquito numbers, reducing biting incidences and the risk of disease.

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