The word “mosquito” is Spanish for “little fly”.
Mosquitoes have a worldwide distribution. They occur throughout the tropical and temperate regions of the world and extend their range northwards into the Arctic Circle. The only areas where they do not currently exist are Antarctica and a few islands.
There are approximately 3 500 different mosquito species, however only a few of these species can transmit disease, i.e. are “vectors”.
Mosquitoes are the biggest killers of humans in the world as a result of the deadly diseases that they transmit. Examples of these include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis, ZIKA and others.
Many scientists agree that mosquitoes present more of a hassle than they have value. Although they beneficially serve as food for many species and help to pollinate flowers, their risk of disease transmission renders them not very popular in the world.
A successful mosquito management program relies on several strategies, targeting the entire life cycle of the organism. In addition, long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLIN’s) are a very effective way to reduce mosquito numbers and minimize the risk of disease transmissions.