New non-native mosquito found in Miami-Dade now spreading across state

MIAMI – A brand new species of mosquito discovered initially in Miami-Dade is spreading throughout the state and scientists are anxious.

Anytime a non-native species arrives in South Florida it’s a trigger for concern. A part of the priority is that researchers do not but know what illnesses it could actually carry, it hasn’t been studied. They’re anxious that the non-native species might have the potential to carry mosquito-borne illnesses, like Zika or the West Nile virus.

The brand new species is named the culex lactator and it’s usually present in central and northern components of South America. It was first present in 2018 in Florida Metropolis. Since then it has been present in components of Lee and Collier counties.

Researchers know it is a shut relative of mosquitoes that carry West Nile or St. Louis encephalitis and they’re learning the way it interacts on this area and what illnesses it might carry.

“These are viruses of birds, West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis, Sometimes a mosquito will chew an contaminated hen after which chew a human. It is potential the culex lactator would not chew individuals ever, nevertheless it nonetheless might contribute to the transmission of a few of these viruses which might enhance the chance,” mentioned College of Florida assistant professor Lawrence Reeves.

That is why he is learning the mosquito. Reeves mentioned one other concern is why extra invasive species make Florida their new house.

“What could also be occurring is that if Florida is getting hotter, particularly if the winters are getting hotter, is that we could also be having a state that’s extra hospitable for these mosquitoes after they do arrive,” mentioned Reeves.

Miami-Dade’s mosquito management division mentioned they’ve 325 traps throughout the county that they acquire on a weekly foundation. To this point they haven’t seen this new species in excessive numbers. They mentioned they are going to proceed to work carefully with researchers to observe this and different invasive species.