Quarter Size Mosquitoes in Florida

Posted on March 18, 2013 with 2 Comments

CNN reports that Florida is bracing for an invasion of gallinippers, a mosquito that can be 20 times the size of typical mosquitoes. They are expected to invade Florida this summer.  You can watch the video here!  Let’s hope these huge mosquito’s don’t make their way to New York.

Potentially Dangerous New Malaria Mosquito Identified

Posted on October 12, 2012 with No Comments

University of Notre Dame entomologists are part of a team of researchers that recently discovered a potentially dangerous new malaria-transmitting mosquito. The as yet unnamed, and previously unreported, mosquito breeds in the western areas of Kenya and has an unknown DNA match to any of the existing malaria-transmitting species.

The Anopheles species of mosquitoes which transmits malaria in Africa is already widely studied by researchers. It prefers to rest indoors during the day and feed on humans during the night. Current malaria control programs, including spraying of insecticides and using insecticide-treated bed nets, are designed with these behaviors in mind.

Although the new species has never been implicated in the transmission of malaria, new discoveries in its biting habits pose a threat because it was found to be active outdoors and prefers to bite people earlier in the evening, soon after sunset, when people are not protected by current malaria control techniques.

Read more here.

Mosquito Virus Could Lead to New Vaccines and Drugs

Posted on September 26, 2012 with 1 Comment

A mosquito sample collected three decades ago in Israel’s Negev Desert has yielded an unexpected discovery: a previously unknown virus that’s closely related to some of the world’s most dangerous mosquito-borne pathogens but, curiously, incapable of infecting non-insect hosts.

Researchers believe this attribute could make the Eilat virus a uniquely useful tool for studying other alphaviruses, a genus of largely mosquito-borne pathogens that includes the viruses responsible for chikungunya, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis and eastern equine encephalitis. In addition, the researchers say, Eilat could also aid in the development of new alphavirus vaccines, therapies and diagnostic techniques.

“This virus is unique — it’s related to all of these mosquito-borne viruses that cause disease and cycle between mosquitoes and animals, and yet it is incapable of infecting vertebrate cells,” said University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston graduate student Farooq Nasar, lead author of a paper on the virus now online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “It’s a gift, really, because we can compare it to other alphaviruses and figure out the basis of their ability to infect a variety of animals, including humans.”

Read More @ Science Daily

New York State Mosquito News from the EPA

Posted on September 13, 2012 with No Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has reorganized its resources on controlling mosquitoes and preventing bites, the agency announced.

Though the summer is winding down, the EPA advises the public that mosquitoes can still present a serious risk to public health. The new resource directory includes prevention methods such as removal of standing water, tips to prevent bites and information about pesticides commonly used in mosquito control programs.

“The agency understands that Americans are concerns about recent increases in mosquito-borne diseases across the United States, especially the West Nile virus, and is committed to helping people understand how they can be more vigilant in protecting themselves from risks posed by mosquitoes,” the EPA said in a statement.

The directory can be accessed here.

Experts Predict Buggy Summer In New York and Across the U.S.

Posted on June 21, 2012 with No Comments

Mosquitoes, ants, water bugs, ticks and bees. They are coming out all over the US with a vengeance this summer according to bug experts.

The city of New Orleans has reported an elevated number of mosquitoes this year, and so have many cities in northeast Illinois, as well as St. Paul, Minn., where pest control workers have reported a 50 percent increase in call volume.

In the Northeast, a mild winter and a mellow spring with warm and wet conditions have contributed to a flourishing bug population.

Mike Deutsch, an urban Entomologist with Arrow Exterminating Company, told FOX News, “We are bracing for a major bug war, if you will. It all depends on how the summer is. If the summer is really hot and there is a lot of moisture like there has been the last month or so, the population of insects is going to be out of control.”

And there are certain species entomologists and exterminators are looking out for — like the Asian tiger mosquito — a very aggressive version of mosquito that bites during the day. Many types of bugs have arrived far ahead of schedule, said Deutsch.

“The mosquitoes were out early. Normally you don’t really find them until June, but we’ve got reports of mosquito problems as early as April, which is very early. We also saw carpenter ant activity much earlier.”

One of the biggest concerns in having extra mosquitoes around this summer is the possible increase in numbers of West Nile Virus cases. Last year, 11 people in the New York City area contracted the virus. Two of them died.

Residents can take an active role in eliminating bug’s breeding grounds which usually involves water collection sites. Dominick Ninivaggi, superintendent of Mosquito Vector Control for Suffolk County in Long Island, said, “It is important to try and get rid of any standing water, particularly after a rain.”

Get rid of any buckets, birdbaths, anything that has picked up water because these mosquitoes can breed in a paper cup or even a bottle cap.”

Ninivaggi said mosquitoes are not the only blood-sucking predators they are worried about.

“We are also seeing an increase in certain species of ticks,” he said. “Ticks in the Northeast are a big problem, with the transmission of lime disease and certain other tick-borne diseases. The mild winter seems to be giving us an upper-crop of the ticks as well.”

Read More: Experts predict buggy summer across the US

New Mosquito Species in Rockland County

Posted on September 15, 2011 with No Comments

LoHud.com has reported that the Asian tiger mosquito was discovered in traps set by the Rockland Department of Health in Orangetown during the last week of August.  Inspectors also found larvae of the species nearby, which indicates that the insect is breeding in the area.  The mosquitoes found in Rockland have not yet been tested for diseases and officials have not said exactly where the newly arrived species was found in Rockland.

One inspector said that “there is only so much they can do and that a lot of it is up to the homeowner.”  If you live in Rockland County or Westchester County and you notice mosquito’s in your yard, give us a call at 800-479-2284.

West Nile Virus Can Be Deadly

Posted on September 14, 2011 with No Comments

An elderly man in Summit County has died and another person remains hospitalized after being infected by the West Nile virus as reported by WEWS Newsnet5.com .  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate about 20 percent of people who become infected with WNV will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.

West Nile Virus Confirmed in New York State

Posted on September 13, 2011 with No Comments

Male Mosquito

A Suffolk County resident has contracted the first known human case of mosquito-borne West Nile virus in New York State this year.   Health officials reminded the public to rid their yards of standing water that can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and to avoid outdoor activities at night or wear bug repellant. Mosquito season ends Nov. 1.

Double Trouble on Staten Island

Posted on July 8, 2011 with No Comments

Bed bugs AND mosquitoes are up to no good on Staten Island.

SI Live reported sightings of bed bugs in Staten Island’s 120^th precinct, forcing prisoners to be relocated to off-Island holding cells while their cells are treated.  Bed bugs are a nuisance to begin with, and relocation of prisoners between precincts and cells may only make the situation worse. The 120^th precinct has had no reported cases of bed bug bites, but procedures are being followed in order to prevent an explosive infestation.

Staten Island also holds the misfortune of coming across a batch of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus. CBS reported that human cases have yet to surface, but the virus is present among mosquitoes on the island. The virus was first reported in the US in 1999. Rest assured that not all humans that come in contact with the virus will fall ill, but for some the encounter can be fatal. Make sure you enjoy Mother Nature with bug repellent in hand to arm yourself against these pests.

Be on the lookout for bed bugs and mosquitoes! Call JP McHale today if you are having issues with these pests or any others.

The Importance of Entomology

Posted on June 21, 2011 with No Comments

We often post articles from our entomology desk here at JP McHale Pest Management, but do you know the extent of entomology in addition to pest management? We’ve gathered an extensive list of uses, products and facts from the entomological world to demonstrate how entomology affects each of our lives.

Entomology is the study of insects, from which we benefit each and every day. Insects provide ecosystem services as they carry out their normal lives. They pollinate our crops, serve as food for ourselves and our domesticated animals, and recycle nutrients back into the earth from dead plants and animals. By feeding upon each other and on plant species, insects keep the world in balance by preventing one species from becoming too numerous.

Related to ecosystem services is the role of insects as biological control agents. Biological control is defined as the use of insects or other natural enemies to reduce problems associated with invasive species. In the pest management industry, biological control is used to target mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, and harborage areas for many fly species. Any advances made in the area of biological control can help to decrease the volumes of pesky organisms that infest our homes and office buildings.

The study of insects has led to advancements in the fields of genetic, evolutionary, molecular and developmental biology as well as embryology. Because it reproduces fast and is easy to rear in a laboratory, the fruit fly is used as a model study organism in science classes across the country to demonstrate the genetics of inheritance. In fact, it was one of the first animals to have its genome sequenced. Insects have also been studied extensively for their social behaviors, especially such insects as honey bees and ants. Understanding of these groups helps not only to understand human behavior, but also aids in the control of insects when they become pests.

Forensic entomology is an extremely useful field of study. Combining entomology with the forensic field often leads to greater clues and understanding when deaths are part of a crime. Take the Casey Anthony trial for example. A woman is being charged for 1^st degree murder of her 2 year old daughter, a gruesome trial that began in 2008. Forensic entomology has been utilized throughout the trial to gain further leads in convicting 25 year old Casey Anthony for the murder of her 2 year old daughter.  Clues such as time of death may be determined with the help of forensic entomology because insect succession studies are used to determine how long a body has been in the area based on the number and types of insects found around it. Terrific advances have been made in the field of science with the help of entomology studies such as this one.

Facts and Products:

If you still consider yourself to be separate from the role that insects play in our world, guess again!!

Did you know that the cocoons produced by silkworm caterpillars are used to make silk? What about the fact that honey bees contribute several billion US dollars as number one agricultural pollinators? You may have read about that in our latest honey bee blog!

Insects are also used as art and entertainment…have you ever thought about that!?

Museums often have exhibits strictly designated for insects, and butterfly houses provide entertainment for adults and children of all ages.

Entomology is the study of insects, but that definition only brushes the surface. The possibilities are endless. Whether you are interested in the science, art, or forensic background of insects, entomology covers it all and continues to broaden its uses all the time.

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