Mosquito numbers on the rise after floods
By Fred Love Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008
DES MOINES -- Recent flooding throughout Iowa has created an ideal habitat for mosquito eggs to hatch, but the growing swarm likely won't pose a risk for the spread of disease until later in the summer, according to health officials.
The variety of mosquito most often linked with West Nile virus and other diseases probably won't become prominent in Iowa for a few more weeks, said Lyric Bartholomay, a medical entomologist at Iowa State University.
And they usually don't carry diseases until late summer and early fall, Bartholomay said.
The variety of mosquito making up much of Iowa's current population -- known as the floodwater mosquito -- will still be a nuisance in the meantime, but they don't spread disease.
"In general, those floodwater mosquitoes are not particularly significant in terms of disease transmission," she said.
Mosquito eggs hatch in wet environments, and widespread pools of standing water generally lead to bloated populations.
The Sioux City area will likely see increases in mosquito populations, but not to the extent of other areas of the state that saw severe flooding, said Dan Weakley, director of laboratory services for Siouxland District Health.
"We'll have mosquito problems but probably not to that extent," Weakley said.
Even so, area residents should take precautions like wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent, he said.
Bartholomay said areas around Des Moines are seeing seven times as many mosquitoes than at the same time last year.
She encouraged homeowners to purge their gutters and get rid of all standing water in their yards, including bird baths, to reduce the habitat available for mosquito eggs to hatch.
Bartholomay also recommended Iowans keep screens in all windows and use insect repellent when outdoors.
"People should always take precautions when they're outside and try to make sure mosquitoes don't get inside," she said.
The humidity linked with wet weather can spark an increase in tick populations, which can also spread disease, she said.
Ken Holscher, an associate professor of entomology at Iowa State, said Iowa may yet avoid oppressive mosquito populations this summer if the rain holds off.
Holscher said more rain in areas that are already saturated with water will create more opportunities for mosquito eggs to hatch as water pools up for days at a time.
"Then they can start cranking out the mosquitoes," he said.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net
The variety of mosquito most often linked with West Nile virus and other diseases probably won't become prominent in Iowa for a few more weeks, said Lyric Bartholomay, a medical entomologist at Iowa State University.
And they usually don't carry diseases until late summer and early fall, Bartholomay said.
The variety of mosquito making up much of Iowa's current population -- known as the floodwater mosquito -- will still be a nuisance in the meantime, but they don't spread disease.
"In general, those floodwater mosquitoes are not particularly significant in terms of disease transmission," she said.
Mosquito eggs hatch in wet environments, and widespread pools of standing water generally lead to bloated populations.
The Sioux City area will likely see increases in mosquito populations, but not to the extent of other areas of the state that saw severe flooding, said Dan Weakley, director of laboratory services for Siouxland District Health.
"We'll have mosquito problems but probably not to that extent," Weakley said.
Even so, area residents should take precautions like wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent, he said.
Bartholomay said areas around Des Moines are seeing seven times as many mosquitoes than at the same time last year.
She encouraged homeowners to purge their gutters and get rid of all standing water in their yards, including bird baths, to reduce the habitat available for mosquito eggs to hatch.
Bartholomay also recommended Iowans keep screens in all windows and use insect repellent when outdoors.
"People should always take precautions when they're outside and try to make sure mosquitoes don't get inside," she said.
The humidity linked with wet weather can spark an increase in tick populations, which can also spread disease, she said.
Ken Holscher, an associate professor of entomology at Iowa State, said Iowa may yet avoid oppressive mosquito populations this summer if the rain holds off.
Holscher said more rain in areas that are already saturated with water will create more opportunities for mosquito eggs to hatch as water pools up for days at a time.
"Then they can start cranking out the mosquitoes," he said.
Fred Love can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net
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rural_living wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:39 PM:
ER wrote on Jun 19, 2008 8:47 AM:
Bob wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:05 PM:
rural_living wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:47 PM: