Mosquitos

[Toddy]

In light of the Summer we have had, and the obvious climate changes, an article link this morning on Medscape is perhaps something to consider.


"An invasive mosquito species known to transmit diseases such as dengue and Zika virus has been found to be breeding in the UK for the first time"


I went a googling, and it looks like this is an AI generated article quoting stuff from the UKHSA.

Invasive mosquito species detected in east London

UKHSA finds invasive Aedes aegypti breeding in east London, prompting enhanced surveillance.

www.gov.uk

Should I be concerned that an invasive mosquito species has been detected in East London? – UK Health Security Agency

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and larvae at residential properties in East London. It is the first time this species has been found breeding in the UK, and the fourth modern-day detection of Aedes

ukhsa.blog.gov.uk

"Health officials said the risk to the public remains low and despite recent heatwaves, the overall UK climate is too cold for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to survive long-term.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stepped up surveillance and trapping after the insects and larvae were found at residential properties in East London.

It is the fourth time the species has been detected in the UK in recent years.

They are known to “hitchhike” in vehicles, baggage, and imported plants and can survive in suitable climates. However, it is the first time they have been found to be breeding, UKHSA said.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are usually found in tropical and subtropical countries and are transmitters of viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

They were detected in east London through the UKHSA mosquito watch scheme and control measures have now been put in place to destroy the larvae.

Dr Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entomology and zoonoses ecology at UKHSA, said: “While Aedes aegypti can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus in countries where these infections are circulating, the risk to the public from this finding is assessed as very low.
There is no evidence that these mosquitoes have caused human infections and importantly, to date, there is no evidence of the mosquitoes or larvae being detected in nearby public areas.

We believe these mosquitoes are accidental importations.

Invasive mosquitoes can hitchhike in vehicles, baggage and imported plants, and if they find a suitable climate, can survive.

Despite evidence of breeding in this local area and the recent heatwaves, the species is not established in the UK and cannot survive long-term in the typical UK climate, which is too cold overall.

However, Medlock said the UK would continue to see cases of invasive mosquitoes and increased reports of them being able to survive in the warming climate.

The UKHSA said people could reduce opportunities for all mosquito species to breed by removing standing water from gardens, including water collected in buckets, containers, and plant pots."

That's pretty hard on those folks down south alreadys struggling to manage to keep enough water for their gardens and crops.

My garden lies next to a burn. It's a shallow stream that floods in heavy rain. My garden has two ponds, there's water everywhere around us.
The UK uses rainwater to flush the sewage drains, every road has some kind of drainage and that's all accessible.
Realistically, I can't see us doing much to prevent the blighters if they do become established.

We have enough issues with midgies and horseflies, and I'm pretty sure Tony posted something a while back about a Blandford fly.

Annoying blighters, aren't they ?

 

[JonathanD]

Great. They don’t bother me that much. But that noise in your earhole is annoying at night. It’s another matter when we get species that can spread horrible diseases though. And even if they can’t survive long term. They can do a lot of damage in the short term that they’re active. I’ve had a mild case of malaria and that was not fun at all.

 

[Toddy]

My Dad was in North Africa during the war, and he ended up with malaria. It bothered him for the rest of his life. It seemed to come back in waves and then settle down for years, only to flare again.

I hope we're better at dealing with it these days, but it's an own goal we really don't need here.

 

[Broch]

I just hope people don't start draining their ponds; we're desperately short of still water habitats in the UK

 

[Toddy]

There have been so many initiatives to encourage home gardeners to have small ponds, saucers with pebbles so that bees, wasps, and butterflies can drink, bird baths, etc.,
It would be horrible to see all that diversity destroyed.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

The only advantage of heatwaves, at least here, is that mozzies are less frequent when it is really hot & dry. but now, it's still hot but with higher humidity & the blighters are out in force. Add to that there is no wind at night so they are evertwhere.. Warm nights + mosquitos = poor sleep.
Some species, such as the tiger mosquito (aedes albopictus) which can also trasmit the dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, were once only found along the Mediterranean but now have moved north & even found in Paris.
It's somethig we don't really think about but global warming also involves, human, animal & plant diseases, migrating to & establishing in regions & countries that have never seen them before.

My little garden pond shall remain undrained & untreated as it remains a lifeline for the birds, small mammals & insects in my vicinity (the only other water source outside of the garden is a river about 250 meters away,too far & dangerous for most little critters to try to reach) Even the odd fox & roe deer will stop by to drink during the heatwaves. I also have a small bowl of water on the other side of the garden for the birds.
Since there is less rain here today than there was when we arrived 33 years go, a local permenent water source is more vital than ever.

 

[PoppyD]

This is what I’m saying. We need more wasps.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Mosquitoes have been much more numerous this summer compared to previous summers. I suspect that we have both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus; the two are very similar and the only time I get a good look at one is when I've managed to squash it. One squashed mozzie looks like any other.

During the drought, there were none at all, but after a few showers and a couple of downpours there are loads.

I try to not let any standing water gather in or under plant pots and when I set up an irrigation system I put Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in the reservoir.

 

[TLM]

Ah ,I remember about 57 years ago at a large boggy are in Lapland the small devils hatched at night between 16 and 17 of June, we were walking there through the night and experienced the birth of "Räkkä" first hand.

 

[shaggystu]

"about" 57 years ago, overnight, between the 16th and 17th of June.... I'm sorry but you're going to have to be more specific, do you not remember the exact time?

 

[Chris]

Do mosquito bits have any adverse impact on outdoor water environments other than killing mosquito larvae? We’d quite like a small pond or something to encourage wildlife back into the area, but mosquito breeding does make us hesitate slightly.

 

[slowworm]

I don't think I've ever seen many mossie/midge larvae in our ponds. They quickly fill with all sorts of wildlife that'll eat them so you shouldn't get many adults.

I've found the biggest problem around a house is uncovered water butts or a bucket left to fill with water.

Down here in Devon the biting midges are causing huge problems spreading bluetongue and it seems to have been a bad year despite the dry weather.

 

[Broch]

As slowworm says, an ecologically balanced wildlife pond will fill with water boatmen, pond skaters, diving beetles etc. as soon as you fill one with water (literally, you could have pond skaters arrive as you fill it) - all very effective predators for anything as tasty as mosquito larvae. We never see mosquito larvae in our ponds - lots of other stuff, but the mosquitos tend to be found in ephemeral water bodies.

 

[JonathanD]

We have a decent sized pond with different sections that get isolated during hot weather. Perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. But we never see any larvae. The other denizens of the pond and species attracted by the pond get them before they have chance to lay eggs. Those that do run the gauntlet with success and lay eggs, have the larvae eaten before they have chance to mature. I’ve noticed a massive increase in dragonfly populations and species attracted to ponds and woodlands the last few years. I used to only see them around rivers, streams and canals, but we get hundreds in our garden now and the surrounding roads and woods.

Go and dig your pond. It’s well worth it. Mosquitoes shouldn’t be a worry. In fact quite the opposite once word gets out about your pond. It’ll attract more predators and reduce whatever nuisance they caused you before you had the pond. Remember it will attract birds and bats and they will also eat the adults. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

Edited to remove dodgy advice.

 

[Broch]

I hate to contradict you JD, but getting canal water is a no-no in habitat forming quarters. Things happen fast enough without putting potentially toxic/contaminated water into your pond. Canals are potentially contaminated with a lot of things you don't want including non-native invasive species.

For garden pond advice see here and the links included:

Freshwater Habitats – Montgomeryshire Habitats Management Group

www.mont-hmg.co.uk

 

[JonathanD]

You’re right. It was a very long time ago that we did that. Things have drastically changed in terms of advice and the actual contamination levels. I’ll chop that bit out .