There’s a romantic purpose for that annoying buzzzzzzz We’ve all had that horror movie moment. We’re in bed, on the verge of sleep, and somewhere in the dark, a menacing high-pitched whine dives closer to our ears. We jump from the bed, arms flailing, with the realization that a mosquito is not only in the…
With a special invitation to the visitors that eat mosquitos When it comes to helping the environment, more and more homeowners are curious about what they can do in their corner of the world to make a difference. One answer is quite simple: plant something. By incorporating particular plants and features into their landscapes, home…
Instead of the same old games, you always play, here are some new ones to try With summer officially here, it’s time to start thinking about all of the usual summertime goodness, like sipping lemonade, swinging in a hammock, and perhaps sipping lemonade while swinging in a hammock. And of course, you can’t forget about…
What we call a bite is more like a stab and a sip It’s difficult to read about a mosquito bite and not think of the creature in the sci-fi film Alien. Imagine, a thing so diabolical that it has a mouth mechanism made up of six parts feeds on blood, is able to inject…
It’s big and aggressive, and it’s here South Floridians have certainly had their fair share of mosquito news in recent years. With headlines screaming Zika and spray zones, many locals could probably teach an in-service on Aedes aegypti, the tiny pest identified as the primary vector for carrying and spreading Zika. There’s a very good…
The Chinese are working to put an end to Zika When Zika was first discovered in 1947, scientists were concerned and worked to find a means of preventing its spread. But while there was a concern, the bells and whistles were barely audible. It wasn’t until Zika was determined to be a cause of microcephaly…
Learn about these distinct species that threaten humans Ever since Zika made its way into the headlines and the human vernacular, a lot has been written and said about Aedes aegypti, the main culprit in spreading the virus. While this pesky pest has enjoyed the spotlight, another mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has been more of…
What you should know about mosquito-borne viruses When a female mosquito selects you for her meal, she’s doing so in order to produce eggs. It’s a simple enough reason for a complicated process that can sometimes result in serious consequences for her human buffet. After landing on you, the mosquito’s labrum – or snout –…
The invasion has begun If there’s one thing all Floridians might have in common, it’s their disdain for mosquitos. While the cooler and drier winter weather gave locals a bit of a reprieve, Zika headlines are waiting for the heat and humidity to return. That’s why University of Florida researchers are concerned. In January, they…
Identifying the weeds in your lawn When it comes to lawns in America, one conservative estimate is that there are three times more acres of lawns in the United States than irrigated corn. For the American homeowner, that’s a lot of agonizing and spending to nurture the perfect lawn. In essence, most homeowners have two…