Super-sized gallinipper mosquitoes may swarm Florida this summer

Experts at the University of Florida have warned that a breed of huge mosquitoes are expected to invade areas of Florida in "large numbers" this summer. The mosquitoes which grow 20 times bigger than the common mosquitoes are "notoriously aggressive."

Scientists at the University of Florida say that last year's tropical storms created the conditions favoring the proliferation of the breed of super-sized mosquitoes, also called gallinippers. The researchers describe gallinippers as floodwater mosquitoes. The females lay eggs in the soil in low-lying areas at the edges of still bodies of water and streams. The eggs hatch when the ponds and streams overflow at the onset of heavy rains. The eggs can remain dormant for years under dry conditions until water causes them to hatch. According to experts, last June, Tropical Storm Debby caused flooding in many parts of Florida. The flooding caused dormant eggs to hatch releasing large numbers of gallinippers. The mosquitoes then laid plenty of eggs which are expected to hatch at the onset of heavy rains this summer unleashing even larger numbers of the mosquitoes. Entomologist Phil Kaufman, associate professor with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), told Gainseville Sun: "Because of the events last year, and the eggs laid, we can expect large numbers of these mosquitoes again." Kaufman explains that Florida saw an increase in numbers of gallinippers last summer after Tropical Storm Debby. If Florida sees heavy rains again this year, the eggs laid last year could hatch releasing swarms of the blood-sucking insects. Kaufman said: "I wouldn't be surprised, given the numbers we saw last year. When we hit the rainy cycle, we may see that again." He added: "The entire basis of mosquito populations of this type are weather-driven, and so if we end up with a tropical hurricane, that's what drives it." My Fox Orlando reports that Anthony Pelaez of Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry, said: "It's about the size of a quarter... It's (gallinippers) about 20 times bigger than the sort of typical, Florida mosquito that you find. And it's mean, and it goes after people, and it bites, and it hurts."

Pelaez said gallinipper's bite is so painful that "It feels like you're being stabbed." Experts say that even in their larval stage, gallinippers are fierce, voracious predators feeding on tadpoles and small aquatic animals. Unlike other mosquitoes that feed only at dusk and at dawn, gallinipper adults feed day and night. The mosquito's biting parts are so strong that they can pierce through light clothing. They attack pets, wild animals and even fish, My Fox Orlando reports. Kaufman told Phys.org: "It is quite capable of biting through my shirt. We suggest people wear long-sleeve pants and shirts. Just doing that may not be enough for this type of mosquito; you're going to have use one of the insect repellents to dissuade them from landing. The bite really hurts, I can attest to that." My Fox Orlando reports that Pinellas County extension agent Jane Morse, said: "It's huge. And it hurts. In an urban area, it's not really their habitat, so we probably won't see them in the city so to speak. But if you live near a pasture-type of an area, a grassy area that floods, then that's where you would see these mosquitoes most likely." Professor Kaufman said: "Down near Paynes Prairie, you are more likely to have more numbers than Main Street Gainesville." Scientists say that because of their large size, the pests may be able to resist insect repellents, even those containing DEET. Psorophora ciliata, as the gallinipper mosquitoes are known to experts, are half inch long with the same black-white shiny striped colors of the common Asian Tiger mosquito. Gallinipers have a swing span of about 6-7 millimeters. In comparison, the Asian tiger mosquito has a body length of only about 2-10 millimeters (see image above). Kaufman et al. report that the word "gallinipper" originated as a vernacular term in the southeastern region of the United States, and while the Entomological Society of America has not recognized it as an official common name for the species, the term is entrenched in the folklore of the region and has "appeared in folk tales, traditional minstrel songs, and a blues song referencing a large mosquito with a 'fearsome bite.'" According to historians, the earliest known description of the fearsome mosquitoes dates back to 1897 when a writer described the insects as "the shyest, slyest, meanest and most venomous of them all." The only positive aspect of the gallinipper mosquito is that unlike its cousin the Asian tiger mosquito, it does not transmit any diseases dangerous to humans. It is also only the females that bite while male insects feed on flower nectar. According to Professor Kaufman: "When you read the historical accounts of the first European settlers in the Southeast and they talked about gigantic mosquitoes, this was one they were talking about."

Source:http://www.digitaljournal.com/