Researchers have discovered a new invasive mosquito species in Florida called Aedes scapularis. An entomologist with the University of Florida identified the species among mosquitoes he collected near Everglades National Park in 2019. DNA testing confirmed the species, and subsequent research found it established in two South Florida counties. While not proven to spread diseases in the US, this mosquito is known to carry viruses like yellow fever in other regions, and its establishment in Florida could enable the spread of new illnesses as outbreaks of Zika and dengue have occurred in the state. Its preference for living indoors and biting both birds and humans increases its potential for disease transmission.

1. Researchers Find New Invasive Mosquito Species In
Florida .
Researchershave recognizedothertypesof mosquitoesinFlorida.It'scalledAedesscapularis.Lawrence
Reeves,anentomologistandexaminationresearcherwiththe Universityof Florida,distinguishedthem
amongmosquitoeshe gatheredclose toEvergladesNationalParkin2019.
Gatheringmosquitoesissimple,he says,utilizingtrapsbedeviledwithdryice.The snaresemanate
carbon dioxide,copyingthe scentsthatpull inmosquitoestoindividualsanddifferentwarm-blooded
animals.Reevesatthat pointfiltersthroughhundreds,attimesthousands,of mosquitoes.He says, "You
take a ganderat themundera magnifyinglens,andsortof,individually,youfilterthroughthemwith
forceps."
DNA examinationaffirmedtheywere Aedesscapularis.Inasubsequentreportin2020, Reevesfound
the speciesisgroundedintwoSouthFloridaareas,Miami-Dade andBroward.Upto now,the
mosquitoeshave beendiscoveredgenerallyinthe CaribbeanandLatinAmerica.InBrazil,Reevessays,
theyhave beendiscoveredtobe taintedwithascope of sicknesses,"thingslike Venezuelanequine
encephalitisinfection,yellowfeverinfectionandamodestbunchof others."
It's beenovera centurysince there wasa yellow feverflare-upinthe U.S.Althoughthey're regularly
taintedit'snot satisfactorywhetherAedesscapularismosquitoesspreadthe infection.However,as
flare-upsof Zikaanddengue have appearedinFlorida,new mosquitoescanbringnew sicknesses.
AnotherinvestigationReevesco-wrotewithUniversityof FloridaentomologistLindsayCampbell
recommendsthe mosquitoesmaynowspread northalongFlorida'sGulf andAtlanticcoasts.
YellowFeverTimeline:The HistoryOf A Long MisunderstoodDisease
There are differentthingsaboutAedesscapularisthatare troubling.It'samosquitothatprefersgoing
inside anditbenefitsfromthe twobirdsandindividuals.Campbell says,"If youendupwithanimal
groupsthat are equippedforsendingto[birds] andlikewise chomppeople,thatisthe excellent
conditionforanoverflowoccasion."Scientistsacceptthe COVID-19pandemicasthe consequence of an
overflowoccasion,includingbatsoranothercreature species.
Environmental change,worldwidetravel,andworldwide exchange are the whole factorsinthe spread
of obtrusive species.AsindicatedbyReeves,10new typesof nonnative mosquitoeshave beenfoundin

2. Floridasince 2000. What's more,more are intransit.Reevessays,"There'sone specificallyrightsince
manyindividualsare stressingover,Aedesvittatus."OriginallyfromIndia,the mosquito"issomewhatof
a vector forpracticallyall thatwe're stressedover:dengue,chikungunya,Zika,"Reevessays.
Aedesvittatusmosquitoeshave nowbeenfoundinCuba — only90 milesfromFlorida.
(Aedesscapularismosquitoescancarryyellow feverandare well-establishedintwoSouthFlorida
counties.)
Source
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/16/976598336/scientists-find-new-invasive-mosquito-species-in-florida