Top 3 Things You Need to Know About Mosquitoes After a Flood
Excessive rainfall from Hurricane Florence dealt a major blow to North Carolina, but there is one critter that will thrive, mosquitoes. Some species of mosquitoes lay egg rafts floating on the water surface that can hatch within 24-48 hrs. Other species, appropriately called “floodwater mosquitoes”, lay their eggs in lowland areas such as floodplains but also in flooded containers and tree holes. Some species of these eggs will hatch relatively soon but others can survive a dry period until the area floods again initiating a second or third hatch much later. Once flooded, the moisture cues the eggs to hatch and the mosquito larvae (called “wrigglers”) emerge into the water, ultimately developing into the blood-thirsty fliers we all love to hate.
Another thing to consider is keeping mosquitoes out of your home. Check windows for ill-fitting or torn screens and keep doors and windows closed. To reduce mosquitoes in the environment, be sure to empty containers with standing water, as these are prime mosquito breeding habitats.