Allison Forsyth 3/22/2021 at 2:22pm | www.sarasotamagazine.com | View Article
Two recent outbreaks have caused mosquito control staffers to apply treatments, while warning of bites and potential disease.
An invasive mosquito species that can potentially carry yellow fever, the Aedes scapularis, was discovered recently in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Found mostly in the Caribbean and Latin America, this species is not in our region yet, but the discovery is leading to concern over whether Florida’s mosquito populations, including those in Sarasota, can spread diseases we haven’t seen in decades, or ever.
Thirty-four species of mosquitoes are seen every year in Sarasota. The peak season for most runs from May through the end of October. However, Sarasota is witnessing an increased amount of container breeding mosquitoes in March; these are mosquitoes that thrive near manmade standing water sources.
