Mosquitoes: New Jersey Residents may have new Neighbors

Mosquitoes like to settle themselves, lay their hats and call a place home. Worryingly, in the next 10 – 15 years that home could be in New Jersey, and to make matters worse the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, commonly known for carrying the Zika virus is the latest species of bloodsucker that has it’s eye on ‘moving in’.

Zika Mosquito Could Call New Jersey Home in 10-15 Years, Biologist Predicts

The mosquito that primarily carries the Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, does not call New Jersey home. Yet.  But it may in the next 10 to 15 years, as the earth warms. That’s the concern of one entomologist who specializes in mosquito tracking and removal in the state.

There’s a lot to be said about climate change and it’s impact on the eco system.  With New Jersey being a little too cold for these critters at present, the way things are going winters could be warming up, which means an appealing settling ground and place for these killer bugs to survive.

It’s not just us humans at threat, it’s plants and animals too. These bugs mean serious business. So how are we prepared for not only the current Zika threat but other mosquito borne illness too?

How we’re prepared for Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses

The World Health Organization (WHO) has in the past week declared that the Zika virus is a global public health emergency.

While this mosquito-borne virus has been around for some 70 years, the global incidence and speed with which it has spread over the past few years, and the recent suggested link to pregnant women and microcephaly in their babies, is concerning.

When was the last time you invested in protecting your home from these killer pests? Maybe now is the time to update your mosquito control?  Don’t wait another 10-15 years for your new nuisance neighbors to move in. Stand your ground now and make them feel as unwelcome as you can!