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UF Researcher: Mega mosquitoes set to invade Central Fla. (They're 20x 'regular' size)
Click Orlando (WKMG Local 6) ^
| March 6, 2013
| Evan Lambert
Posted on 03/06/2013 6:52:38 AM PST by Stoat
Mega mosquitoes known as gallinippers could invade Central Florida this summer as flood waters from tropical storms force the larvae to hatch this hurricane season.
Entomologists at the University of Florida say the mosquitoes are 20 times the size of a typical mosquito, about the size of a quarter.
They also pack a painful bite, according to UF entomologist Phil Kaufman. He calls the species "notoriously aggressive."
The best way to protect against these super-sized mosquitoes is to wear bug spray with DEET and cover up as best as possible.
Gallinippers were spotted last year in Florida after Tropical Storm Debbie doused the state, but scientists predict they'll make an appearance again this summer.
According to Kaufman and his team one good thing about these mosquitoes is that they aren't known to carry any viruses that could be harmful to humans.
Still people who enjoy the outdoors are not looking forward to the insects.
"That kind of makes the summer not that exciting. I'm not looking forward to that anymore," said Stephanie McNatt.
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: florida; gallinippers; mosquito; mosquitoes
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To: Stoat
The largest bloodsucking pests in the country infest Washington DC. And they don’t just stay for the summer.
21
posted on
03/06/2013 7:27:16 AM PST
by
OrangeHoof
(Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
To: Stoat
Oh, I thought you said “Mega Mosques”. And that you could protect yourself with deet.
Nevermind.
22
posted on
03/06/2013 7:30:05 AM PST
by
Hardraade
(http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Vendetta))
To: Bob
No mention of climate change being the cause? Im surprised. Climate change has nothing to do with it. This year, the blame goes to the sequester.
We were warned there would be locusts, famine, and fire. Why didn't we listen? Why? WHY?
(yeah. sarcism)
To: dfwgator
24
posted on
03/06/2013 7:33:02 AM PST
by
Stoat
(If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face... forever)
To: chaosagent
25
posted on
03/06/2013 7:35:48 AM PST
by
smokingfrog
( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
To: Stoat
Read
this.
Numerous other common names have been applied to the crane fly, many of them more or less regional, including mosquito hawk, mosquito eater (or skeeter eater), gallinipper, may fly (or mayfly) gollywhopper and whapper.
At least 4,250 species of crane flies have been described, most of them (75%) by the specialist Charles Paul Alexander.
Despite their common names, as adults, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes, nor do they bite humans. Some larval crane flies are predatory and may occasionally eat mosquito larvae. Adult crane flies feed on nectar or they do not feed at all. Once they become adults, most crane fly species exist as adults only to mate and die. Their larvae, called "leatherjackets", "leatherbacks", "leatherback bugs" or "leatherjacket slugs" because of the way they move, consume roots (such as those of turf grass) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants. The crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf pest in some areas. In 1935, Lord's Cricket Ground in London was among the venues affected by leatherjackets: several thousand were collected by ground staff and burned, because they caused bald patches on the wicket and the pitch took unaccustomed spin for much of the season.
The larvae of less than 2% of the species have been described. Of those that have been described, many prefer moist environments, and some leatherjackets are aquatic.
![](http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GS&Date=20130305&Category=ARTICLES&ArtNo=130309802&Ref=AR&MaxW=445&border=0)
I think what
they are reporting is a member of the Asian Tiger Mosquito family..
"At left is the gallinipper mosquito, known for its large size and painful bite. At right is the Asian tiger, the most common backyard mosquito in Florida. UF/IFAS Photo by Marisol Amador"
26
posted on
03/06/2013 7:35:48 AM PST
by
Yosemitest
(It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
To: moovova
Blood suckers?Obviously, Democrat mosquitoes.
Given that their larvae can hide in the mud or in animal manure for decades, only to be released during a storm, I'd wish to suggest that these may actually be full-blown Commie mosquitoes, not merely everyday Democrat ones....although the differences between them are becoming less distinct with every passing day.
27
posted on
03/06/2013 7:36:52 AM PST
by
Stoat
(If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face... forever)
To: Stoat
In that picture above, is that thing really biting through a leather boot?
28
posted on
03/06/2013 7:37:08 AM PST
by
VanShuyten
("a shadow...draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence.")
To: cuban leaf
Here's a photo of a "mega mosquito", a dime, and a regular skeeter for comparison:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lQUK5CB5l84/TGqnqwSFZMI/AAAAAAAABxY/qx4vJh3g_P4/s1600/100_4861.jpg)
Pretty good sized.
29
posted on
03/06/2013 7:37:24 AM PST
by
AnAmericanAbroad
(It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
To: AnAmericanAbroad
Yep. Kinda like a horse fly. Based on what I saw in the article I was assuming more like a Sparrow.
Thanks for the photo.
30
posted on
03/06/2013 7:39:16 AM PST
by
cuban leaf
(Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
To: cuban leaf
Apparently 20 times the mass. 20 times the length would be the size of a rat.
31
posted on
03/06/2013 7:49:18 AM PST
by
dangus
To: Stoat
32
posted on
03/06/2013 7:50:28 AM PST
by
null and void
(Gun confiscation enables tyranny. Don't enable tyranny.)
To: sunny48
33
posted on
03/06/2013 7:55:01 AM PST
by
null and void
(Gun confiscation enables tyranny. Don't enable tyranny.)
To: dangus
Apparently 20 times the mass. 20 times the length would be the size of a rat.
Yeah. “20 times bigger” sound a lot more interesting than “twice as long”. ;-)
34
posted on
03/06/2013 7:55:32 AM PST
by
cuban leaf
(Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
To: Stoat
Entomologists at the University of Florida say the mosquitoes are 20 times the size of a typical mosquitoCan't they divert them, oh say to, Tallahassee?
35
posted on
03/06/2013 7:56:57 AM PST
by
dfwgator
These animals (skeeters) are the origin of the term Skeet.
Call Obama as he is an expert at shooting them. I’m sure he would jump at a chance to shoot live skeeter after practicing so much on skeet dummies.
36
posted on
03/06/2013 7:58:43 AM PST
by
Rio
(Tempis Fugit.)
To: Stoat
Sounds to me like UF's entomologists are a bunch of yankees who don't know squat about skeeters in the Sunshine State.
These are what we natives refer to as 'gallon eaters', and they've been around since forever around these parts.
37
posted on
03/06/2013 8:01:35 AM PST
by
Joe Brower
(The "American People" are no longer capable of self-governance.)
To: Eric in the Ozarks
I spent a week in Minnesota one day, and the mosquitoes I saw could stand flat footed in a ditch and screw a turkey.
38
posted on
03/06/2013 8:02:49 AM PST
by
csmusaret
(I will give Obama credit for one thing- he is living proof that familiarity breeds contempt.)
To: csmusaret
Drive north on I-35 to the last exit in Iowa; no mosquitoes.
Pull off at the first exit in Minnesota; they’re waiting for you...
To: Stoat
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