Subprime

It turns out that an unintended side effect of the subprime mortgage crisis currently engulfing America could be a rise in cases of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Here's the logic: The number of people who can't pay their mortgages is on the rise, leading to a sharp increase in the number of foreclosed homes. The real estate market is flat, so those bank-owned properties are languishing, unsold, for long periods of time. Now, consider the case of Phoenix, Arizona, where the land is literally a desert and people have responded to this by creating their own tolerable microclimates, namely houses with swimming pools.

There are tens of thousands of swimming pools in Maricopa County, Arizona, which has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the entire country. Foreclosed houses with swimming pools become foreclosed houses with stagnant, algae-filled mosquito breeding grounds, and more mosquitoes means more mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus.

Still with me? Mosquitoes have become a real problem in Arizona, such that officials in Maricopa County have started a breeding program for mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and as reported by Yahoo! News, have started offering them for release in order to control the mosquitoes. Mosquitofish are themselves considered an invasive species in several parts of the world, and while native to the southern USA and Mexico, are not native to Arizona, where their introduction is thought to have impacted several native fish species. Let's hope the fish stay in those swimming pools.

Thanks to George H. for sending in a link to this story.

Minnesota Mozzies

Via the sky blue waters report comes this article from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about the recent arrival of yet another non-native mosquito species in Minnesota. The Japanese rock pool mosquito (Aedes japonicus, also known as Ochlerotatus japonicus), which has been present in the US since the late 1990s, was discovered in Scott County in early August. Unfortunately, preliminary evidence suggests that this is one of several mosquito species that can carry West Nile virus, and there is concern that the mosquitoes may be able to transmit other viruses to humans as well.

Closed Waters

The Naples Daily News is reporting that residents of a neighborhood in East Naples, Florida are just about fed up with their water hyacinth problem and the county's apparent lack of interest in dealing with it. The invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has almost completely covered the surface of a set of private canals adjacent to a lower-income area in East Naples known as Port-au-Prince. Apparently the inaction by Collier County has to do with that word "private" - the county says they only maintain public waterways (So who the heck owns these canals and why aren't they stepping up?). Residents want the county to spray herbicide to control the aquatic weeds but the county is reluctant to do. It sounds like they will actually consider it but not on a regular basis and not unless someone finds a way to pay for it. In the meantime, residents are forced to deal with burgeoning mosquito populations and possible fish kills caused by all the stagnation that water hyacinth facilitates.

Interested readers will want to check out this article detailing a Port-au-Prince resident's efforts to convince Collier County commissioners to help out, as well as this plea from another resident. Thanks to thingfish23 of The Taming of the Band-Aid for sending in the link to the story.

Six Skeeters Swarming

From stuff.co.nz comes this story about mosquitoes trying to fly their way into New Zealand...by hijacking a plane. NZ officials are being a bit weird about the whole thing, claiming that there were exactly six insects were involved (three Aedes vigilax and three Culex sitiens) and that all of them were intercepted. I know the mosquitoes were found in the cockpit, but it was a Boeing 737 - that's a big plane with lots of places for things to hide. Also, they set traps for adults and larva in the air hangar, and are refusing to release the name of the airline that owns the plane. Hmmm.

This is certainly not the first time foreign "mozzies" have been found in New Zealand. Here's a detailed report from back in 2002.

Thanks to Andrew B. for sending in a link to this story.

Killer Mozzies

Australian scientists are warning that an invasion of incredibly annoying proportions is on the verge of hitting mainland Australia. As reported by the Sunday Mail, the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has been found on several islands in the Torres Strait, and are likely to enter Southern Australia if steps are not taken to prevent it. Bonus points to the Sunday Mail for printing the disgusting photo of a blood-engorged mosquito feeding on a human. Bleah.

Water primrose primer

Workers at The Nature Conservancy's Long Island, NY chapter are spreading the word about the recent discovery of established populations of an invasive water primrose (Ludwigia sp.) in the Peconic River. A smart biologist has already documented the invasion with photos (see below). As reported by the ISW back in 2003, water primrose is prime mosquito habitat. If you're in the area and you think you've spotted this plant, you can find contact information for TNC's Long Island office here. TNC is considering their options for eradication or management as they study the situation more closely.

(Thanks to Andy Senesac for granting permission to use his photos.)

See you later, Alligator

Evidence is mounting that alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)) can transmit West Nile virus (Flavivirus sp.), according to this article from The Idaho Statesman. An Idaho man handled infected baby alligators, shipped from Florida, and later came down with a mild case of the virus. Hundreds of the gators died after arriving at the gator farm where the man works, and the rest of the 1,000 that were imported were later destroyed. While the method of infection is not certain, the man does not remember being bitten by a mosquito, and no West Nile-infected mosquitos have been found within state lines. Someone should lets folks in Louisiana know about this; this story from The Advocate states that alligator-to-human transmission is not possible.

The Good and the Bad?

Two intersting blurbs about water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) today. First, the Herald Tribune reports that a scientist has developed a way to use populations of the invasive aquatic plant to remove excess nutrients that pollute stormwater runoff. The best part is that once the water is clean, the water hyacinth is removed and turned into a supplement for cattle feed. Read the article and you'll see that this is no fly-by-night project.

Also in the news today is a report from the India Times that water hyacinth invasion leads to an increase in dengue fever (Flavirus spp.). When water hyacinth populations take over a body of water, vegetation below the surface is shaded out and decays, leading to a loss of oxygen in the water. Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease, and it is suspected that the fish that would normally eat mosquito larvae are being suffocated.

Thanks to a member of the ALIENS-L listserver for posting link to these stories.

Fighting Fire with Fire

As reported by The Times of India, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad recently released 200,000 gambusia fish (Gambusia sp.) into India's Hussain Sagar Lake, in an attempt to control mosquito populations. Problem is that gambusia themselves are a known invasive species. But there continues to contraversy in India about the introduction: while some claim that the fish dine solely on mosquito larvae, others insist that the fish are a threat to the native flora and fauna of the lake. I'm a bit confused myself, since it appears Hussain Sagar Lake is a man-made body of water (though it is over 400 centuries old).

Disease Trumps Weed

Officials from all levels of government met in Santa Rosa, California last week to discuss plans to control the invasive aquatic species water primrose (Ludwigia hexapetala) in the Laguna de Santa Rosa. But, according to this article in The Press Democrat, the aquatic weed has become a top priority not because of the fact that it now covers over 300 acres of the Laguna, but because it is prime mosquito habitat, and officials are highly concerned about stopping the spread of West Nile virus (Flavivirus sp.). Mosquito larvae and eggs can escape pesticide sprays from within the flowers and leaves of water primrose plants. The goal of significantly reducing populations before next spring will likely be accomplished with herbicide application. (Bonus points to The Press Democrat for using the scientific name.)

Mosquitos Bite

With all the press about the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) being found in the U.S., little attention has been given to its distant cousin, the Asian bush mosquito (Ochlerotatus japonicus). Turns out O. japonicus has been in the U.S. since at least 1999, the year it was first found in the southeast. Now, as reported at WBT.com, the mosquito has been found as far north as North Carolina. While much more likely to carry West Nile virus, this species is a much less aggressive biter.

Thanks to Dave Barry's blog for posting a link to this story.

Skeeter Scare

The Health Protection Agency in the UK is on high alert after finding evidence that the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has already entered the country, as reported on the BBC's website.. The mosquitos can carry dengue fever and West Nile virus, among other ailments, making officials extra vigilant about preventing the spread of this insect species. You can read more on the British mosquito invasion in this article from Femail.

Unwanted Hitchhikers

The New Zealand Herald is reporting that 2 exotic species of mosquito were discovered Tuesday on a ship at port in Auckland. Larvae and pupae were found in tires being used to secure a piece of equipment (talk about a thorough check!). The ship, which last docked in American Samoa, was treated with a control agent in the area where the mosquitos were found. The exact species of mosquito have yet to be determined.

Gambusia = Damnbusia

Check out the Gambusia Control Homepage. Dedicated to explaining to the world the problems caused by Mosquitofish, which has been used as a method of controlling mosquito larvae, the page points out that this genus threatens native biodiversity in Australia and New Zealand, and coyly renames the fish "damnbusia." The U.S. is also dealing with this problem genus, which is actually native to the southeastern states. Ironically, Mosquitofish do not even do a good job of mosquito larvae control.