What Is a Mosquito?
More than any other insect, mosquitoes have greatly impacted public health worldwide. By blood-feeding on humans and other animals, the female mosquito is capable of transmitting several types of pathogens, including viruses, protozoans and parasitic worms.
Mosquitoes can vary in size and can often be confused with other flies (i.e., crane flies and midges). A mosquito is distinguished by its “straw-like” mouthparts referred to as a proboscis. Females use this proboscis to feed on blood as well as nectar, whereas male mosquitoes feed solely on nectar.
Like other flies, mosquitoes undergo complete metamorphosis, which includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Though only the adult stage poses a public health concern, mosquito control programs also work to control immature stages to interrupt the life cycle.
Public Health
In Florida, there are over 80 species of mosquitoes. Of these species, nearly a quarter are considered public health threats due to the pathogens they may transmit, including endemic viruses (i.e., West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis) and exotic viruses (i.e., Zika, dengue and chikungunya). In addition, many of these mosquitoes are considered pestiferous to communities all over Florida. To learn more about mosquito-borne diseases in Florida, visit the Florida Department of Health website.
Florida Mosquito Control
In the late 1800s, Floridians experienced major epidemics of yellow fever and malaria due to the unchecked mosquito populations. Control efforts through organizations such as the Florida Mosquito Control Association began in the early 1920s to combat mosquitoes and prevent further transmission of mosquito-borne disease. By the mid-1920s, mosquito control programs were beginning to form in the state to locally control mosquitoes and protect public health in their regions. Today, Florida has over 60 state-approved mosquito control programs.
In addition to playing a key role in public health, mosquito control programs support the economy by protecting Florida’s tourism and livestock industry. Today, millions of people can enjoy Florida’s beaches and parks thanks to the efforts of our mosquito control programs.
