My Science X Newsletter talks about a Florida study which found increasing numbers of mosquitos after Hurricane Irma.
OK, I've visited but never lived in Florida. But I have lived most of my life in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Or 14,000 as some count them. Many refer to the mosquito as our state bird. We are regularly warned about not leaving containers of water lying around for mosquitos to breed in, and reminded that even things like old tires can hold enough water after a rain to breed them. So can holes in fence posts, or any number of odd places. If one must have mini ponds like half barrels for container gardens, add a couple pair of crappie minnows from your local bait shop to feed on the the larvae, hint hint.
Those warnings amp up after the first summer cases of encephalitis are reported. Or West Nile. Or whatever mosquito borne illness is in the news. Even vets warn more against heartworm danger in pets.
In short, an increase of standing water equals an increase of breeding locations equals an increase of mosquitos. So we hardly find it worth the time and expense to study whether hurricanes with all the extra water they dump over large areas result in subsequent weeks in an increased number of mosquitoes.
Or in a word: DUH!!!!!!
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