<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
I thought the main purpose of the mesh screen on pools and balconies was to keep out Mosquitoes and bugs.
There are mosquitoes everywhere in Florida. If you want more information from Florida environment agencies just 'Google'
'mosquitoes florida'
[/quote]
How right you are Robert....................
[i]Pesky flying insects that bug Floridians and visitors alike!
Do you know what mosquitoes call the dance that most humans do? The "Smackerena."
Seriously, some of the pesky flying insects that you will encounter in Florida are no laughing matter, so we're arming you with the information you need to do battle against these armies of insect intruders.
Love Bugs
Plecia nearctica, commonly known as the "love bug," is really not a "bug" at all – it is a fly (Diptera). But, whatever it is, it is known to bug drivers on Florida's highways as they emerge in April and May and again in September and October.
The "love bug" nickname seems to have evolved by the visible in-flight mating of the species. Females emerge from their larvae into a swarm of males and are grasped by a darting male. The pair falls to the ground where they couple and eventually take flight – often into the path of your speeding vehicle.
"Love bugs" are drawn to the highways by light and automobile exhaust fumes.
If you are traveling mid-morning or mid-to-late-afternoon, you are more likely to have the hood and windshield of your automobile pelted with the winged black "bugs" which leave behind hard-to-remove carcasses.
Other than avoiding the peak hours for the "bugs" flight, not much can be done to spare your automobile. Regular windshield wiper fluid often does not easily remove the bugs and the result of running your wipers is a streaked gooey mess that cuts visibility. Keeping a bucket in your car stocked with a bottle of water, a non-scratch pad, and baking soda is your best defense. The baking soda is known to make removal of the little critters easier.
Mosquitoes
These pesky bloodsuckers that leave you scratching are more than just a nuisance... they are a menace. They carry diseases – encephalitis, malaria, West Nile Virus – and cause heartworms in your canine friends.
The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "little fly" and they belong to the order of Diptera – true flies. Mosquitoes are like flies in that they have two wings, but unlike flies, their wings have scales, their legs are long, and the females have a long mouth part for piercing skin. There are many species of mosquitoes that frequent your Florida outdoor activities, but all require water to breed.
Mosquitoes have many sensors to designed to seek out their prey, including:
Chemical sensors that can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to 100 feet away. Just about any mammal or bird gives off these gases as part of its normal breathing. Certain chemicals in sweat also seem to attract mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes can detect heat, so warm-blooded mammals and birds are easily found once they get close enough.
Mosquitoes have visual sensors that can easily see contrasts and movement.
It is important to take precautions to avoid being bit by this ominous little creature. Here are some helpful suggestions:
Wear clothing that covers most of your body.
Use a mosquito repellent. DEET (NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide) at a concentration of 7.5 percent to 100 percent is suggested and a 15-percent concentation is recommended for children. Avon's Skin-So-Soft is a weak, short-lasting (less than 20 minutes) mosquito repellent. Permethrin, an effective pesticide, should be used on clothing only – never apply to your skin as it is a neurotoxin.
Stay inside! Avoid times of the day (early morning, dusk, and evening) that mosquitoes are most active.
Help control the mosquito population by eliminating sources of standing water where they may breed.
Noseeums
Al
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