After all, the ongoing heat wave in Texas may have a silver lining: less mosquitoes Another review from Environment Focal, a not-for-profit environment science research bunch, shows that the Straight City might have seen a general decrease in its mosquito populace throughout the course of recent years because of an expansion in temperatures. As a result, there will be fewer opportunities for the annoying insects to bite people and possibly spread disease.
Since 1979, Houston has experienced an average of 20 fewer so-called “mosquito days,” which are defined as warm, humid days in which insects thrive. According to Climate Central, mosquitoes prefer climates with daily minimum and maximum temperatures between 50 and 95 degrees and an average humidity of 42% or higher.
Climate Central discovered that in 1979, Houston experienced a staggering 240 mosquito days after analyzing the weather patterns of 242 locations, including Houston. According to the study, that number had decreased by 24% to just 182 days of ideal weather for mosquitoes by 2022.
Additionally, the climate warming caused an increase in the number of annual mosquito days in over 70% of the 241 other locations in the United States since 1979, according to the research. According to the study, mosquito days decreased the most in the south since 1979, where summer temperatures frequently exceed the upper range for suitable conditions. In contrast, during the same time period, mosquito-related days increased the most in the Ohio Valley and northeastern United States.
Even though that may sound good for the south, Climate Central notes that rainfall and drought may also have an impact on mosquito activity. According to the study, storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding create stagnant water pools that serve as mosquitoes’ breeding and growing grounds. Drought has been linked to cases of West Nile Virus in the United States, possibly as a result of closer contact between mosquitoes, which carry the virus, and birds, which are the virus’s hosts.
