Mosquito Madness
Mosquitoes have always been a nuisance in the hot and rainy South, and some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria and West Nile Virus. On windy days, mosquitoes—which can fly at only a sluggish 1.5 miles per hour—are rarely seen. When winds die down at dawn and dusk, however, mosquitoes take flight to feed. The South’s hot spring and summer combined with large amounts of regular rainfall and ample forest cover allow big populations of the biting insects to survive. Only female mosquitoes feed on the blood of animals and people. While it’s easy to dislike mosquitoes, they are vital to the food chain and are a major food source for fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, bats, dragonflies, predatory flies and assassin bugs.
Viewer Tip: There are many ways to reduce your exposure to mosquitoes. Emptying and removing any containers with standing water can prevent larvae from breeding; birdbath water should be changed every three to five days. Instead of using insecticidal spray to control mosquitoes, try creating a habitat garden that supports the predators of mosquitoes for natural control. Simply introducing a flowing water garden as well as a diversity of native plants goes a long way to providing habitat.
This tip is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. For more information, visit www.gwf.org.
Seasons: Spring, Summer
(Source: David Mizejewski & National Wildlife Federation, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife, NJ: Creative Homeowner, 2004.)
