ecology

Ecology

Living in a subtropical environment such as ours means there will be many places that mosquitoes can call home. An added disadvantage to this situation is that we support both a freshwater and a saltwater environment in which mosquitoes can breed. For our district, this means we have to approach the treatment of mosquito populations in different ways. Below you will find pictures of common mosquito breeding sites:

Mangrove Swamps encompass the transitional zone from about the usual level of high tide to levels above all but the highest spring and storm tides. Here is where the heaviest mosquito breeding occurs. The main reason these areas provide such good breeding environments is because the plant,mangrove, and grass cover keep moisture conditions about right for egg laying. These mangrove and swamp type areas provide constant, almost year round breeding areas for certain species of mosquito.

Salt Marsh areas usually contain salt-tolerant herbaceous plants and typical salt grasses. Extensive areas can be covered by just a single species of salt grass. This association can limit the species of mosquito that will breed in these areas, but by no means limits the quantities.

Freshwater Marshes and Ponds are scattered throughout our county. The interaction between the freshwater marshes and saltwater habitats also produces brackish water environment. With all these ecosystems bundled so close together, the breeding possibilities (in terms of mosquito species) is staggering. The eastern part of our county is a prime example of this mixing of environments.

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