Millions of migrants from Central and South America and their generations of offspring have established massive colonies in Florida, bringing disease and pestilence. The Trumpian language is merited this time, though, because we’re talking about mosquitos this time, specifically a species called Culex lactator.
The species was first identified in Miami-Dade County in the late 1990s, but nests of the mosquitos were recently identified in two other counties, creating an established population that will be difficult to exterminate. Culex lactator is infamous among virologists for spreading diseases like the West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses.
“Climate change may improve the chances of tropical mosquito species becoming established once they make it to Florida if the state becomes warmer,” said Lawrence Reeves, an assistant professor at University of Florida (surprisingly still operating in the GOP battle on science) and mosquito biologist at the UF/IFAS research center. “Increasing storm frequency and intensity could also blow in more mosquitoes and other species from the Caribbean, Central America and elsewhere.