"Female mosquitoes imbibe blood so that their eggs can mature prior to laying. It serves no nourishment function. Males do not take blood meals at all. In order to obtain energy, both male and female mosquitoes feed upon plant nectars – much in the same manner as honeybees."
"A mosquito's principal food is nectar or similar sugar source."
Source: American Mosquito Control Association
My point is simple -- don't believe every random press release some bureaucrat puts out. Mosquitos are present in Louisiana and every other state in the Union where there is water. Their larvae hatch in water, as long as it is clean enough. They are particularly common in wetlands, like those all around New Orleans. They have been and will be in New Orleans and the surrounding areas forever. They are no more of a risk now as a disease vector than they were a month ago.
Oh, don't ruin his lovely theory with actual facts. ;)
>>>They are no more of a risk now as a disease vector than they were a month ago.>>>
Really? So we waste all that money on DDT in places Malaria is common?
Yes, those pesky facts. Of course the 'facts' that freeandfreezing posted are for NORMAL MOSQUITO activity. Why don't we gather some facts involved in flood situations.
Vector-borne diseases
Floods may indirectly lead to an increase in vector-borne diseases through the expansion in the number and range of vector habitats. Standing water caused by heavy rainfall or overflow of rivers can act as breeding sites for mosquitoes, and therefore enhance the potential for exposure of the disaster-affected population and emergency workers to infections such as dengue, malaria and West Nile fever. Flooding may initially flush out mosquito breeding, but it comes back when the waters recede. The lag time is usually around 6-8 weeks before the onset of a malaria epidemic.
All the gas, diesel,fuel oil, and who knows what chemicals in the flood water will kill mosquitos.