How Far Mosquito Can Fly

Having a good understanding of how far mosquito can fly has long been considered a major factor in vector capacity. Especially for mosquitoes that are able to carry human diseases, such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, it is important to know how far a particular species can fly. The information will also help scientists and researchers to design experiments and plan vector control programs.

A recent study reveals how far mosquito can fly, and it challenges some common perceptions about the insect. For instance, researchers found that the majority of backyard mosquitoes will not travel more than 300 feet. However, there are some species that can fly much farther, up to 7 miles.

In order to calculate the distance a mosquito can fly, researchers took advantage of sticky nets that were launched at various heights. The higher the net, the more mosquitoes were captured. This helped them to determine the average flight range for all species. The results were relatively similar to previous meta-analyses, but were slightly closer.

Another important factor in determining the flight range of a mosquito is how the insect disperses. For instance, Aedes vigilax, which breeds in mangroves, may have a path of dispersal influenced by the local landscape, urban mangroves, and major roadways. This study can be useful when designing vector control protocols and releasing genetically modified mosquitoes.

A team of researchers, including those from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, worked from the University of Bamako in Mali to conduct the study. Their results were published in the journal Nature.

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