As the climate changes, more and more mosquitoes will appear in winter

According to the latest research from the University of Florida, mosquitoes are a common summer pest in the world

Researchers found that in the spring, when the night temperature is still cold and the day temperature starts to warm, the mosquitoes can tolerate a wider range of temperatures

<P>"This information helps us more accurately describe the temperature range a species can tolerate.

Scientists use special traps that release carbon dioxide gas to lure mosquitoes, the gas that humans and animals exhale when they breathe

The researchers used these traps to capture more than 28,000 mosquitoes representing 18 species of mosquitoes

Each mosquito is placed in a vial and then placed in a water bath

"In the experiment, the ability of these small creatures to withstand high temperatures is surprising, usually much higher than the average ambient temperature measured by the weather station; cica Yogo is one of the co-authors of this study

Yogo helped conduct this research when he was a research scholar intern at UF in the master's program of AgroParisTech in France

Researchers say they don't yet know what makes mosquitoes adapt to rapid changes in temperature

"Many people don't realize how fast natural selection can act on short-lived animals," said Daniel Hahn, professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at UF/IFAS and a co-author of the study

"The more mosquitoes are active, the greater the risk of these diseases being transmitted

One of the co-authors of the study, entomologist Peter Jiang from the Mosquito Control Department in Gainesville, said that residents play an important role in controlling mosquitoes now and in the future

Simple actions can reduce the number of mosquitoes, Jiang said

"Neighbors are encouraged to empty, remove or cover any water containers, especially old bottles, tin cans, trash and tires, repair leaking pipes, cover or turn over the boats outside the taps and screens, twice a week.

Residents who want to know more about how to control mosquitoes can contact the local UF/IFAS extension office or the city/county mosquito control program

In addition to informing decision-making, research like this has made people pay more attention to one aspect of climate change

"When we talk about how climate change affects plants and animals, we often talk about species migrating to new areas because the environment is changing—in other words, new things are coming
.
However, climate change will also affect the species we live in now, Such as highly flexible mosquitoes, this is another aspect to consider

Journal Reference :

1. Brunno F.
   Oliveira, Wendtwoin IG Yogo, Daniel A.
   Hahn, Jiang Yongxing, Brett R.
   Scheffers.
   Community‐wide seasonal shifts in thermal tolerances of mosquitoes .
   Ecology , 2021; DOI: 10.
   1002/ecy.
   3368