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Scientists blame climate change for unexpected mosquito activity in Portugal

mosquito swarmThe tendency in recent years has been for more unexpected phenomena to start to appear: mosquito activity is becoming more erratic, with more activity reported in the out-of-season period when mosquito numbers should diminish.

There are no new species in Portugal, nor has there been a change in the behaviour of mosquitoes. The explanation, experts say, may be climate change, which causes a larger quantity of usual mosquitoes than usual. "Climate change, which results in colder nights, or two or three days of very hot weather followed by rapid cooling, causes mosquitoes to spring in to action or hatch more eggs in tune with this change, so there are more mosquitoes in a shorter period of time.", explains Maria João Alves, a researcher at the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Institute of Health.

The species that vex Portugal "are the same species that we have always had", but it is possible that "there is a larger quantity of mosquitoes" in Portugal that need to have quick "blood meals" to sustain themselves. In addition, "in summer people are more exposed and more out at night, so there may be more bites - but there is nothing described that there are variations in behaviour or new species."

Does this mean that in the future we will have more and more mosquitoes? Not necessarily, says the coordinator of the National Vector Surveillance Network. What should happen, they explained, is that we will see more and more unexpected phenomena on both ends of the spectrum: more out-of-season mosquitoes some years, and less out-of-season mosquitoes in other years.

"Climate change will do more to surprise us in this regard: more will hatch in months we aren’t expecting much activity, and fewer mosquitoes could hatch in times when we are typically used to it." In Portugal, mosquito activity occurs mainly between May and October. However, environmental changes have caused variations. A few years ago, the researcher recalls an example when there was strong activity in November, after a period of rainy weeks, followed by heat and rain again. "The rain created aquatic environments which were perfect breeding places for mosquitoes, which caused them to hatch more in November," explains Maria João Alves.

At the pest management summit that took place last year in Cascais, Brazilian entomologist Roberto Pereira of the University of Florida warned of this phenomenon: in cities, there are already more mosquitoes and flies throughout the year as opposed to focused more in certain periods of the year, which transmit epidemic diseases to humans.

He explained that these will "get along" with the increase in environmental temperature. In the insect life cycle, where a single generation takes a few weeks, many more insect generations can easily follow, he warned.

Globalization, as well as increased travel and international trade, may also alter the geographical boundaries of some species as well and, consequently, vector-borne diseases and news species could more easily spread. For now, says Maria João Alves, “there is no cause for alarm, as the National Vector Surveillance Network has not identified any viral activity.”

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Comments  

+1 #7 elspeth flood 2019-09-01 07:30
In the 31 years I have been here, insect life has declined. There are no fireflies, fewer butterflies and wasps, and no toads. I never use pesticides in any form and the land around me is largely unfarmed. The cicadas also declined this year. Why?
0 #6 Peter Booker 2019-08-30 09:22
Quoting AL:
Quoting Margaridaana:
Climate change is being blamed for so many things these days, and people must realise that the earth has been heating and cooling dramatically since time began. It is a natural phenomena. Cold and hot eras will continue until time finishes. The main problem today is that there are just too many people on earth.

Very true, the most blatant is the recently amazon forest fires that are also being blamed on climate change with politicians and celebrities posting pictures from previous year fires and in Ronaldo's case the picture he posted was not even from the amazon forest. The main problem today is not overpopulation but the management of the planet's resources.


Whatever term we use, climate change, overpopulation, loss of biodiversity or anything else, the principal threat is to the human race. We are gradually making our planet unfit for human habitation. The magnitude of the threat is growing, possibly exponentially, and I suspect that we have already passed the point of no return. It is now a question of how long our species can survive on this planet; and of course we have no alternative.
0 #5 AL 2019-08-28 15:42
Quoting Margaridaana:
Climate change is being blamed for so many things these days, and people must realise that the earth has been heating and cooling dramatically since time began. It is a natural phenomena. Cold and hot eras will continue until time finishes. The main problem today is that there are just too many people on earth.

Very true, the most blatant is the recently amazon forest fires that are also being blamed on climate change with politicians and celebrities posting pictures from previous year fires and in Ronaldo's case the picture he posted was not even from the amazon forest. The main problem today is not overpopulation but the management of the planet's resources.
+1 #4 Margaridaana 2019-08-28 14:32
Climate change is being blamed for so many things these days, and people must realise that the earth has been heating and cooling dramatically since time began. It is a natural phenomena. Cold and hot eras will continue until time finishes. The main problem today is that there are just too many people on earth.
+3 #3 AL 2019-08-27 09:41
Scientists have recently discovered that the climate changes and now they have made another ground breaking discovery that in summer people are more exposed to mosquitoes.
Politicians have a great solution to combat this climate monster, more taxes! Perhaps it will also make the mosquitoes go away.
+1 #2 Peter Booker 2019-08-27 08:03
Those people I know who live close to fruit plantations reckon that there are altogether fewer insects. Which phenomenon they attribute to pesticide use. I also think that this year there are fewer insects, in particular wasps.

Going further, if there are too many insects in towns, why not subject the towns to the same sort of pesticide regime that they use in orchards?
-2 #1 Jack Reacher 2019-08-26 20:03
Blame Climate Change...so easy to palm it off as just that. Never mind looking at the environment the mosis breed in. Pooling golf course water..wildlidlfe shot and poisoned..easier to pin the problem on the.climate..allowing lazy ass politicians to do nothing.

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