Colin Purrington4d ago
Yesterday I decided to check my mini-pond for mosquito egg rafts and found 8. Two were easy to find (arrows) but the remainder were situated in little nooks obscured by plants. All Culex, I think. Each egg has a glossy apical cap filled with aggregation pheromones that induce other mosquitoes to oviposit. Pond is dosed regularly with Bti so I'm not worried about the eggs I've missed. #mosquitoes #culex #insects #diptera #pond #macrophotography
Show threadRoy -- the dull one

@colinpurrington

Thank you, Colin, for this informative and important post!

People, the signs are that we are entering (by choice, even if not consciously) a New Age of Pestilence, and every person on the planet needs to know the life histories of disease vectors.

In many places, the most productive mosquito factories are in our yards, sheds, and porches. The pleasant "water feature". And, more, the forgotten pet food bowl, leafy gutter, tire swing, stray plastic bag -- and rainwater.

Apr 2 at 3:09pmWeb
Show threadColin Purrington4d ago
@oldclumsy_nowmad I wish mosquito biology was taught in elementary or middle school so that more people were smart about objects that collect rainwater. Too many just throw up their hands and call the pyrethroid truck.
Show threadRoy -- the dull one4d ago

@colinpurrington

The sketchy teaching of biology in so many schools is a serious problem. It's frightening in these times, when unfamiliar species of vectors are showing up in the country, along with unfamiliar diseases.

Every bit of publicity helps, I hope. Keep up the good work, please!