Scientists issue warning as US mosquito levels drop 70% to historic low
Enjoying summer evenings without the nuisances of pesky mosquitos trying to bite you might sound like a dream, but it’s not as blissful as some may believe.
This comes after scientists issued a new warning about mosquito levels in the US dropping by a whopping 70%, making it a historic low.
Across parts of the country, mosquito populations have dropped dramatically this year, with some states recording numbers around half of what would normally be expected.
Meanwhile, in Colorado, the decline is reportedly even more striking, with some areas seeing populations fall by as much as 70%.
Advert
So, why are the numbers falling? Well, this unusual decline has been linked to severe drought conditions affecting large parts of the nation, with the lack of water making it much harder for mosquitos to find the stagnant pools and other wet environments they need to reproduce.
In recent months, experts have been raising alarm bells over the West Nile virus, which is commonly spread through mosquito bites.
And while populations may be dwindling, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the threat of the virus is going down.
Instead, over 140 cases had been reported across the US so far this year.
The virus can cause serious illness, with symptoms including high fever, tremors, paralysis, vision problems, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and in the most serious circumstances, coma or death.
And a drought has the potential to make the disease even more dangerous. This is down to the fact that drought can force both mosquitos and the birds that carry West Nile virus to congregate around the limited sources of water.
That creates a much smaller space in which mosquitos and infected birds are interacting, potentially making it easier for the virus to circulate.
However, it isn’t all bad news, because experts are not anticipating for this current decline in the mosquito population to last.
Instead, mosquitos are able to recover quickly from droughts, with a single female mosquito being able to produce enormous amounts of eggs after one bloody feast.
Mosquitos have existed in the US long before humans, with their origins in North America dating back tens of millions of years.
The ancient insects have been found in fossils, which have highlighted how they have existed on Earth for more than 100 million years.
However, modern issues including the likes of climate change threaten the species as they are now forced to adapt to new conditions.