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Were Mosquitoes Around in Prehistoric Times?

March 24, 2022 by Brian Kelly

prehistoric mosquitosMosquitos have been a pest for a long time – but how long? With the sixth and newest Jurassic Park film, Jurassic World: Dominion, set to arrive in theaters this spring, it’s a good time to look at how old mosquitos are.

As most of you are probably aware, in the films, scientists were able to get dinosaur DNA from blood samples found in the stomachs of prehistoric mosquitos that had been trapped in amber. Is that just a fanciful idea for a science fiction movie, or are mosquitoes so old that they could have bitten dinosaurs?

What Is the Oldest Mosquito?

First of all, did mosquitos exist simultaneously the giant sauropods of antiquity? According to Dr. Ralph Harbach of the Natural History Museum in London, it’s entirely possible.

“Since some of today’s mosquitoes also feed on reptiles, could the more ancient mosquitoes have sucked from a dinosaur?” Dr. Harbach said: “it’s possible. Evidence suggests mosquitoes evolved in the Jurassic Period (200-146 million years ago). If the early ancestral mosquitoes had already evolved to feed on blood, it is conceivable that they may have fed on dinosaurs.”

How Does a Mosquito Get into Amber?

Amber is fossilized tree sap, and tree sap is often sweet-smelling. The most common theory is that mosquitoes would land on a tree branch attracted by the smell and get trapped. Over the centuries, the amber would fossilize, preserving the insect. It is a comparatively typical process, and many types of prehistoric insects have been found preserved this way.

Were There Giant Mosquitoes in Prehistoric Times?

There were giant insects deep in Earth’s past, a side effect of much higher oxygen levels in the atmosphere allowing them to reach sizes that sometimes approached several feet, just like something in a movie. These titans of the insect world attained their largest sizes approximately 300 million years ago, But, as Dr. Harbach pointed out, mosquitos evolved around 200 million years ago.

While it is entertaining to contemplate, there were no genuinely giant mosquitoes back then or in the intervening years. The mosquito’s primary size and shape have hardly changed over the years since prehistoric times.

Did Mosquitoes Evolve from Flies?

No, mosquitos did not evolve from flies; technically, they are flies. Mosquitoes are members of almost 3,600 species of small flies that are part of the family Culicidae (from the Latin culex meaning “gnat”).

East End Tick Control® Eliminates Mosquitoes

If these age-old pests plague your Long Island home, contact us. We can eliminate them and ensure that they do not return. We are proud to note that all of our options are family and pet safe. For those living near Southampton, please call (631) 287-9700 . If you are closer to East Hampton, please call (631) 324-9700. If you reside near Southold, please call (631) 765-9700. You can always email us as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Filed Under: Mosquitoes, Outdoor Pests

Why Were Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released in the U.S.?

February 24, 2022 by Brian Kelly

genetically modified mosquitoWouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a world with no mosquitoes? There would be no need to slather on bug repellent in the summer, and you could sleep with the windows open without being dive-bombed by droning mosquitoes all night. More importantly, mosquito-borne diseases could disappear, it could eradicate Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, malaria, and dengue fever. Livestock and pets would benefit from mosquito-borne disease eradication as well. To this end, several countries, including the United States, have deployed transgenic mosquitoes to reduce mosquito populations drastically.
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Filed Under: Mosquitoes, Outdoor Pests

The Malaria Vaccine Fact Sheet

January 21, 2022 by Brian Kelly

malaria vaccine faqBecause it’s primarily a problem in tropical areas, Americans don’t usually think about malaria unless they’re traveling to places where malaria is prevalent. But malaria is a dangerous disease spread by mosquitos. Worldwide 241 million cases of malaria and 627,000 deaths occurred in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

While malaria is a problem worldwide, deaths from malaria disproportionately occur in Africa, according to WHO. Worse, children younger than five years old make up 80% of the deaths in Africa. That’s why the news that a malaria vaccine has finally been developed was a momentous medical achievement.
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Filed Under: Mosquitoes

What Happens to Mosquitoes in the Winter?

December 23, 2021 by Brian Kelly

mosquitos in winterThere have been snow flurries, and people have hung up lights and ornaments for the winter holidays. It is December, and winter has officially begun. So why did you get bit by a mosquito in your own home? Mosquitoes typically shut down as the weather gets colder, but they have become more active despite the cold temperatures due to many factors. Let’s look at some and how they can be avoided or eliminated.
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Filed Under: Mosquitoes, Winter

Can I Have Mosquitos Inside in November?

November 24, 2021 by Brian Kelly

mosquitos on screenThe time has changed. The leaves are falling. So it should be time for mosquitos to be a distant spring and summer memory, but on Long Island, that’s not always the case. The sneaky flying pests might be hiding in your house for one last hurrah of the year.

Having mosquitos in the house in November used to be unheard of. The little blood-suckers preferred to be active from about May to October on the island, but climate change is at work, extending the mosquito season.

The shift in the seasons has meant New York has been inundated with flying pests, and it takes more than just some colder temperatures to kill them off. You’re less likely to run into mosquitos on the lawn or the tennis court, but they may have found a new place to linger: inside your home.

Why Are Mosquitos in Your Home?

Much like many other insects in the fall, mosquitoes seek a place where they can stay warm for a few more days or weeks. They may come in the front door when you come in, or they may have found holes in your screens.

Many of us like the fresh air of fall and turn off the air conditioning in favor of open windows. If there is damage to your screens, it can provide an opportunity for all manner of insects to find their way inside.

One of the best things you can do to prevent mosquitos inside in November is to check your screens. Pay particular attention to the screens near where pets like to hang out, as a stray claw can easily rip a screen open.

After that, it’s time to do a thorough plumbing check of the house. Just like when they are outside, mosquitoes are looking for warm damp places to lay their eggs. Making sure there is no standing water in bathtub drains or under sinks can not only prevent mosquitoes this fall it can help reduce their reappearance in the spring.

The laundry room and the garage may also be hidden sources of a mosquito problem. Be sure to search them for mosquitos as well. The warmth and humidity of both spaces make them ideal for mosquitos to breed.

Why Is It Important to Get Rid of Mosquitoes?

In addition to that irritating buzzing when they are about to land on you for lunch and the annoying itches, mosquitoes carry diseases that can be dangerous to you and your family. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend not only taking immediate action to kill mosquitos that have moved inside but also checking your home for any places where they might be lurking and breeding.

East End Tick Control Eliminates Mosquitoes

To get rid of mosquitoes currently plaguing your Long Island home, contact us. We can help you get rid of the flying pests now and prevent them in the future with family and pet safe options. For those living near Southampton, please call (631) 287-9700. If you are closer to East Hampton, please call (631) 324-9700. And if you reside near Southold, please call (631) 765-9700. You can always email us as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Filed Under: Indoor Pests, Mosquitoes, Winter

It’s October! Why Am I Still Getting Bit by Mosquitoes?

October 7, 2021 by Brian Kelly

mosquitos-in-octoberFall is here! Cooler temperatures, football, and pumpkin spice everything. Heading outside on a sunny fall day should be an enjoyable experience. But for some, they are still experiencing some of the more annoying aspects of the summer, including mosquito bites. Why are some people still prone to getting bit when summer has been officially over for weeks? Let’s take a look at two primary reasons. 
[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Autumn, Mosquitoes

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