Photo: Asian Tiger Mosquito, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher is an ASNV board member and a regular surveyor of local wildlife who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species.
Billboard, Judy Gallagher
Everyone loves to hate mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are associated with itchy bumps, annoying buzzing around your ears, and as vectors of diseases such as Malaria or West Nile Virus.
Asian Tiger Mosquito preparing to get a blood meal, Judy Gallagher
Years ago, you were more likely to be bitten by a mosquito after dusk, as most of our native mosquitoes were nocturnal. But the non-native Asian Tiger Mosquito, now one of the most widespread mosquitoes in Virginia, bites primarily during the day, and will usually only bite at night around outdoor lights. With both diurnal and nocturnal mosquitoes, it's pretty hard to avoid being bitten. Mosquitoes are attracted to our body heat and the carbon dioxide and substances found in our breath and sweat. Research suggests that mosquitoes have a preference for beer drinkers and people with type O blood.
While mosquito bites are annoying, the diseases that they can carry are far more serious. Malaria kills over a million people per year worldwide, and it was only officially eradicated in the U.S. in 1951. There are other mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika, West Nile Virus, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Chikungunya. Scientists are working on solutions to the mosquito-borne disease problem. One such effort is introducing Wolbachia bacteria into mosquitoes. These bacteria inhibit the ability of viruses to live and replicate in other insects, and, if they also work in mosquitoes, could save many lives. Another way of eradicating mosquito-borne disease is to eradicate the mosquitoes.
Ebony Jewelwing damselfly with mosquito, Judy Gallagher
But eradication has a huge down side - mosquitoes are an important part of our natural environment. Adults are a crucial food source for birds, dragonflies, bats, amphibians and so on, and the aquatic larvae support fish such as catfish, bass and bluegills. Bats, turtles, aquatic beetles, and dragonfly and damselfly larvae also eat mosquito larvae. There are even predatory mosquito species whose larvae eat other mosquito larvae.
There are more than 3,000 mosquito species worldwide, 58 of which are found in Virginia. Not all of them feed on humans. As its name suggests, the Northern Frog-biting Mosquito bites frogs and other cold-blooded animals. Male mosquitoes don't bite humans. Female mosquitoes only need protein from a blood meal when they are laying eggs. At other times, both males and females primarily eat nectar. Like other nectar-eating insects, mosquitoes are important pollinators.
Ragged Fringed Orchid with mosquito, Judy Gallagher
The Bluntleaf Orchid is pollinated primarily by mosquitoes. It attracts them by issuing an aroma remarkably similar to human body odor. The mosquito eats nectar from the orchid, and pollen sticks to the mosquito, who then inadvertently transfers the pollen when it visits another flower. We don't have the Bluntleaf Orchid in this area, but another orchid in the same genus, the Ragged Fringed Orchid, is fairly common here. I looked at my Ragged Fringed Orchid pictures and discovered that several of the pictures had mosquitoes in them, something that I had not noticed when I took the pictures or when I processed them.
Elephant Mosquito feeding on nectar. Note that pollen is clinging to its legs, Judy Gallagher
Our two largest local mosquito species are the Elephant Mosquito and the Gallinipper. The Elephant Mosquito doesn't feed on blood. Females use sugars from nectar to support egg development.
Gallinipper with a blood meal, Judy Gallagher
So how can you avoid those annoying bites? You could plan a trip to Iceland or Antarctica, both of which are mosquito-free. Locally, try removing sources of standing water around your home. This includes cleaning out gutters, replacing bird bath water at least once a week, and ensuring that outdoor potted plants don't have water standing in the pot bottoms. When you go outside in an area with mosquitoes, wear light-colored clothing that covers as much body surface as possible and use insect repellent, especially ones that contain natural ingredients like lemon eucalyptus oil. And reflect upon the value of mosquitoes. They are food for many of the birds you love, and pollinators of many of the plants you admire.
View more of Judy’s Observations from Meadowood articles here.