Invasive Mosquito Species From South America Now in Florida

Now present in Florida are invasive mosquito species from South America, another addition to the 90 species of mosquito that the state has.

Another new mosquito species to the state that has the potential to spread diseases carried by mosquitoes has entered the Florida tropics, worrying scientists.

Culex Lactator

A mosquito that only goes by its scientific name, Culex lactator, has already made a permanent home in at least three counties in the Sunshine State, as per the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

A new study conducted by academics at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in the university was just published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. While looking for other exotic mosquito species in Miami-Dade County in 2018, they came across the species.

Culex lactator is prevalent in Central and northern South America, according to the study's lead author Lawrence Reeves, an assistant professor as well as mosquito biologist at the research facility of the university in Vero Beach.

Important mosquito species that spread the West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses are members of the Culex genus.

It is too soon to say whether Culex lactator will make these problems worse, according to Reeves, but the effects are frequently hard to foresee because not all the species of mosquito are equally able to transmit a given virus or other pathogens.

Physically, Culex lactator resembles other mosquito species from Florida that are already well-known. It resembles other mosquito species that are more typical. Due to their similarity, Culex lactator can be simple to overlook in a location.

According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, as Culex lactator is likely to spread throughout the state into environmentally suitable areas, Reeves and his team emphasize how crucial it is to monitor for the presence of the pest.

The climate in Florida and its position relative to the tropics are perfect for non-native mosquito species. The frequency and rate at which new species are appearing in Florida worries scientists. The state is home to up to 17 non-native mosquito species.

According to researchers, non-native mosquito species are being found more frequently. 11 of the 17 non-native species have only been discovered in the last 20 years, and six of the 17 have only been found in the last five.

Like Culex lactator, Aedes albopictus, the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus are introduced non-native species from the tropics and are among the most significant disease vectors in the United States.

Also Read: Mosquitoes Have Evolved Olfactory System for Hunting Human Scents, Study Reveals  

90 Mosquito Species in Florida

Collier County, which is located south and east of Naples, Lee County, which is located west of Fort Myers, and the Homestead region of Miami-Dade County have all seen thriving populations of these mosquitoes recently.

Approximately 90 different mosquito species can be found in Florida, according to Reeves, and more are being brought in from other parts of the globe.

The lack of sufficient investigation on the species and any potential disease risk worries scientists.

According to Reeves, the introduction of new mosquito species like this is worrisome because nonnative mosquitoes are largely to blame for Florida's worst mosquito-related problems, and in situations like this, it is challenging to predict what to expect when there is so little known about a mosquito species.

The university estimates that there are over 3,600 different mosquito species in the world.

Reeves claimed that if Florida warms up as a result of climate change, tropical mosquito species may have a better chance of establishing themselves there.

Central America, the Caribbean, and other regions may see an increase in mosquitoes due to an increase in storm frequency and intensity, FOX Weather reports.

Related Article: Mosquito Bite Can Be Trumped by Circadian Rhythm, New Study Reveals