SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — It’s lunchtime at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District and a colony of sabethes cyaneus — also known as the paddle-legged beauty for its feathery appendages and iridescent coloring — find their way to Ella Branham. “They’re not very aggressive and they’re kind of picky eaters,” said Branham, a … Read more
Mosquitoes top the list as the most annoying part of summer, new research suggests. A recent survey of 2,000 adults revealed more than a quarter (28%) said that mosquitoes are the most frustrating part of the summer months, with sweating and excessive heat tied for second (27%). Bugs are a real nuisance for many. So … Read more
It’s summertime and you know what that means: the dreaded mosquitoes are out to play. If you’ve ever wondered why it seems like you’re the only person at the outdoor party getting bit by the pesky creatures, you’re not alone. A new YouTube video by the American Chemical Society in its “Reactions” series explores how … Read more
Malaria, a potentially deadly disease caused by a mosquito-borne parasite, is making inroads into the US. Three new cases of malaria — one in Texas and two in Florida — are alarming to officials because they were locally acquired, meaning a mosquito in the US was carrying the parasite. That hasn’t happened since 2003 in … Read more
New research has found that smelly armpits may turn some people into a mosquito magnet. This is apparently the reason that some people are so plagued by the annoying critters — while others get off scot-free, according to scientists. The pesky insects are drawn to body odor, also known as BO — and mosquitoes can find us … Read more
You’ll go coconuts for this news. A study published in the iScience journal Wednesday explored how different soaps repel mosquitoes, concluding that coconut could be the magic scent that keeps the pesky insects away. “Everybody smells different, even after the application of soap; your physiological status, the way you live, what you eat, and the … Read more
A new study finds that some people really are “mosquito magnets” and it probably has to do with the way they smell. The researchers found that people who are most attractive to mosquitoes produce a lot of certain chemicals on their skin that are tied to smell. And bad news for mosquito magnets: The bloodsuckers … Read more
Scientists have managed to turn one of the deadliest insects into a vaccine delivery system. According to new reports from NPR, a clinical trial for a system meant to use mosquitoes to deliver vaccines has been underway in the United Kingdom. The findings of the trial have been published in Science Translational Medicine. According to … Read more
Southern California is plagued by a tropical mosquito with a hunger for human ankles. The Aedes mosquito originates from a tropical climate, arrived in California over a decade ago and has now spread to every continent in the world. The insects appear to have migrated to southern California this summer near the San Fernando Valley … Read more
Bill Gates made a statement about malaria recently since he did whatever it took to make a point, that it shouldn’t be just the communities in economically challenged circumstances who should deal with the situation. He’s been an advocate to combat malaria Gates who has been a fundraiser and investor for different life-threatening situations has … Read more
One Seattle morning, Carolina Reid sat in a room with nine other volunteers, each waiting to take part in a clinical trial for a new, experimental malaria vaccine. Reid’s turn came. She put her arm over a cardboard box filled with 200 mosquitoes and covered with a mesh that keeps them in but still lets … Read more
Massachusetts health officials announced the second human case of West Nile virus of the year Friday. The Massachusetts department of Public Health said a man in his 70s had been exposed to the virus in Suffolk County, noting that the Boston area is at moderate to high risk of human infection. The first case, a … Read more
New Hampshire this year has detected the first batch of mosquitoes that have tested positive for the Jamestown Canyon virus. State health officials announced Monday that the first batch was collected at Atkinson in early August. The second batch arrived a few days later from Hampstead. Jamestown Canyon virus is transmitted by the bite of … Read more