In a leafy glade adjoining Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area and the Indian River Lagoon, the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory studies Florida’s mosquitoes.
They determine what they do, where they go, and how many species there are in this state.
Not thousands, as you might think, but 80 identifiable species, which you can look up in their database.
Of these, 13 species can carry West Nile virus, encephalitis, and several other nasties.
Mosquito-borne diseases are the main reason you want to keep these blood-suckers from biting, since you don’t know where they’ve been.
Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt help while hiking, but seem counter-intuitive during the hottest months, when mosquitoes thrive.
Insect repellent is a must, with OFF! Deep Woods lasting the longest of all brands tested by our state mosquito experts.
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