Monster mosquitoes invading Florida

These beasts are 20 times the size of normal mosquitoes, are much more aggressive and it's said that they have a very painful bite! The wet weather conditions experienced in Florida of late is making for perfect conditions for a swarm of these monsters to decend on the poor folks of Florida this summer.

Mega mosquitoes arrive in Central Florida

Entomologists predict quarter-sized gallinippers will invade Sunshine State

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/vb51b4d940.jpg[/atsimg] Gallinippers, which are 20 times the size of a typical mosquito and pack a painful bite, have been spotted in Seminole County, according to officials.

Entomologists at the University of Florida predicted earlier this year that the mega mosquitoes, about the size of a quarter, would invade the Sunshine State in 2013, a year after being spotted in Florida following drenching rains from Tropical Storm Debbie.

Kelly Deutsch, the director of Seminole County Mosquito Control, said gallinippers, officially known as psorophora ciliate, are treated the same as any other species. Deutsch said recent rains, including the dousing from Tropical Storm Andrea earlier this week, will likely cause a spike in all mosquitoes.

UF entomologist Phil Kaufman said the super-sized species is "notoriously aggressive” and the best way to protect against them is to wear bug spray with DEET and cover up as best as possible.

According to Kaufman, gallinippers aren't known to carry any viruses that could be harmful to humans.

Clickorlando.com

At least they don't carry diseases (yet) but these things sound like an absolute nightmare. Local authorities are already spraying and treating local swamps to try to mitigate the problem but it sounds like it may be a cruel, painful summer for a lot of folks down there in Florida.

The article doesn't go into where these things originated from. I wonder if they're an indigenous species that may get a kick-start from the wet weather or if they snuck over on a boat from somewhere nasty and now they're making a foothold in the US. I hope not because from there, they may just start making their way North to make the rest of the county miserable.

reply to post by FortAnthem


ive fought those mosquitos since i was a kid, there are plenty were i live

Looks like a typical Canadian mosquito.... We call them our National Bird.

I'll take mosquitoes over Black Flies or Horse Flies any day.

Peace

Umm....Where did they find those tiny mosquitoes. I thought they were all huge and sounded like dirtbikes or jetskies when your trying to sleep. No wonder I didn't see regular mosquitoes in Florida when I was there, they must be the size of our sandflies.

We got real big mosquitoes here but they don't usually bite. I don't really know what they eat.

reply to post by rickymouse

I don't really know what they eat.

The ones in Canada typically eat a moose now and then. We have often wondered why we have so many missing in the summer and we have our suspicions...


Peace

I should have titled this one:

Monster mosquitoes invade US, the rest of the world laughs

I guess this is another one of those first world problems where everyone else looks at our giant mosquitoes that have us shaking in our boots and say "aw, that's just a little guy, we can ride the ones we have in my country".

Crap.

Mother in law is dragging us to Legoland and Disney in two weeks.

I dislike large crowds. They make me extremely nervous. So while the rest of the fam enjoys the theme parks, I'll be relaxing in the lazy river with a good book.

Still....giant mosquitos plus mother in law equals.......

Crap.

PS. My mother in law is a great person. I love her dearly, just not looking forward to this trip.

reply to post by FortAnthem
Living on the Gulf Coast brings all sorts of hazards, and these mosquitoes are one of them. They get pushed inland from the marshes whenever there is a hurricane or a tropical storm.The only good thing about them is that their size makes them easier to swat and makes them easier prey for the bats, but they hurt more than regular mosquitoes when they "bite" and make whelps the size of deer fly bites- and they itch like crazy!

Originally posted by littled16
reply to post by FortAnthem

 

Living on the Gulf Coast brings all sorts of hazards, and these mosquitoes are one of them. They get pushed inland from the marshes whenever there is a hurricane or a tropical storm.The only good thing about them is that their size makes them easier to swat and makes them easier prey for the bats, but they hurt more than regular mosquitoes when they "bite" and make whelps the size of deer fly bites- and they itch like crazy!

Are you sure those mosquitoes during a hurricane aren't just flying lobsters

Originally posted by rickymouse

Are you sure those mosquitoes during a hurricane aren't just flying lobsters

!

Nah, lobsters look like giant crawfish. If some ever come flying through they will be in the boiler so fast they wouldn't have time to snap their pincers!

Originally posted by littled16
reply to post by FortAnthem

 

Living on the Gulf Coast brings all sorts of hazards, and these mosquitoes are one of them. They get pushed inland from the marshes whenever there is a hurricane or a tropical storm.The only good thing about them is that their size makes them easier to swat and makes them easier prey for the bats, but they hurt more than regular mosquitoes when they "bite" and make whelps the size of deer fly bites- and they itch like crazy!

So you're saying they are indigenous bugs but, they usually stick to the swamps and only get driven out into "civilized" areas after periods of heavy rains. That explains a lot. The article made it sound like they were some type of invasive species.

Thanks for your explanation.

reply to post by FortAnthem
Yeah, they are nasty little buggers! We have a lot of marshland around here and they usually stick to those areas, but when storms push in from the Gulf not only does it push them farther inland but they multiply like crazy because flood waters stagnate in parts of the marsh that are normally dryer and the eggs start hatching by the millions once they are hydrated. After the last few hurricanes they were horrible even during the middle of the day, but at night you couldn't even go outside unless you were completely doused with Deep Woods Off.

.....could this have to do with the GMO skeeters they let go in the wild down there last year rt.com...

reply to post by Mac405


GMO skeeters were not released here... yet. They got the go ahead to release them but we are fighting the hell out of this.

Come to Oregon, no mosquitoes here. It's too dry during the summer.

Well of course. I'm suppose to go the gulf coast in Florida in July. I guess the good news is, being from MI, they really don't look any bigger than ours. Plus, for some reason they really don't like me. Hubby will be all torn up though!

Just wanted to confirm these beast as I have had the fun today of them trying to get their fill on me while cutting a hay field. It all started around 3:30pm and I thought that was rather strange being hot and sunny at that time.

This year has just been a bad year for the hay farmers due to rain rain and more rain. But seems the mosquitoes are out now must have killed at least 7 of these today. And yes their bite hurts. The regular ones have been bad all summer but today was the first I've seen these around here this year.
The first one landed on my finger and reminded me of a well driller setting up and the raising of the suck tube for penetration as I smashed the poor thing.
The next two actually got into my plumbing.

I noticed them here as well last year due to that tropical storm that stalled out over the area and caused the flooding.

reply to post by FortAnthem


Maybe the state of Florida should ask Hawaii for a few thousand of these to spread around , they should survive in that Climate and would make quick work of those pesky Skeeters...............


i297.photobucket.com...

Originally posted by Mac405
.....could this have to do with the GMO skeeters they let go in the wild down there last year rt.com...

edit on 9-6-2013 by Mac405 because: correction

We are fighting this tooth and nail! It has been approved, but the locals are causing a stink and preventing this so far. We are getting ready to unleash these though!

Mosquito Drones

reply to post by Zanti Misfit


Now that's crazy. I helped one out of some trouble yesterday looked allot like that one and I had it on my finger. Next time I'll think twice and get a stick.