Culicidology (MOSQUITOES) Part 2 with Fhallon Ware-Gilmore

Alie Ward
This episode is brought to you by Merrick Petcare. And if you've heard me talk about Grammy, you know that she means the world to me. I wanted a dog for probably ten years, and I was living in an apartment. Couldn't have dogs. When I finally moved somewhere else.

I adopted her within weeks, and it was love at first scritch. She's about 2ft away from me as I record this, she hangs out in the studio, and all I want to do is smooch her and look at her and stare at her. I also like feeding her because I see how happy it makes her. And there's nothing like watching her lick her chops after having yummy stuff like Grammy's pot pie or real Texas beef and sweet potato, which are two recipes she's been enjoying for Merrick. As her parent, I like that they use deboned meat and fish or poultry as the number one ingredient.

I also like that they have these real ingredients and you can see them on the bag so you know what's in each one. And watching her do a little dance, especially with a Grammy's pot pie recipe, brings too much joy to my heart. Is there such a thing as too much joy? I'm not sure, but check out Merrick online or in your local pet store and look for their new packaging with real ingredients shown on the bag and inside it. Hey, fidelity, what's it cost to invest with the Fidelity app?

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Allie Ward back for part two of cholecidology, which I think I mispronounced maybe once or twice in part one. You can go back and listen. You'd spot my failures. Or let's just move on to part two, which is about to cover all of the real life takeaways you could ever need. Now that you know how mosquitoes find love, how their surgical mouths work, why they drink your blood, where they lay eggs, what they are saying with all the high pitched buzzing.

We also covered if they are indeed the most dangerous animal on the planet and what's number two on the list where mosquitoes go in the winter and why they bite you more than your sister. So that's all in part one. Go back, listen to that. It's linked in the show notes. But let's move on in this part two to learn how to keep them away from you.

What to do if you can't stop itching. If Jurassic park is in our future, theoretical extinction, let's just, let's just say. And also which mosquito borne diseases you have the pleasure of worrying about. But first, thank you to everyone who submitted questions via patreon.com ologies. Thank you to everyone in Ologies Merch, which is available at the link in the show notes and to everyone who leaves reviews.

For me, it really helps the show so much. And I read them all, like this one from Tomshepard 92 that says big slay huge and that my outlook on life will make you say screw it and do what you've been scared to do because as Tom says, those bangs aren't going to cut themselves. Tomshepperd 92. You get it. Thank you for listening.

Get the bangs. Life is for living. Hair grows okay, so you hate mosquitoes. You want to try to appreciate literally anything about them, but also you want to kill them. We got you.

So this mosquito expert is doing a postdoc at the US Centers for Disease Control. And in this final episode on mosquitoes, sit back for tips on avoiding these creatures. Busting some repellent rumors if a warmer planet means happier mosquitoes. Pop cultural reflections plant based solutions stinky stinky feet itch remedies when you should go to the ER, how to love and appreciate these your tiny enemies. And so, so much more with medical entomologist, mosquito expert, and appreciator and chalicidologist doctor Fallon ware Gilmore.

So Spencer, first time question Asker from Lakeland, Florida, says, I would like to. Know what's with all the posts on Reddit recently about mosquitoes in Florida? Specifically, I'm talking about their history of being genetically modified and the plan to. Release new modified mosquitoes to reduce the long term population. I'm wondering if this is even safe.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Thank you so much. So many people wanted to know genetically modified mosquitoes, right? That's fair question. And so let's give some context to the GMO mosquitoes. So we kind of have two situations going in here.

We have our Wolbachia infected mosquitoes, and then we have our GMO, our genetically modified mosquitoes, right? Basically, they are modified to reduce their ability to transmit diseases, but also to suppress mosquito populations. The first thing that comes into my mind is oxytech. Oxitec was releasing male mosquitoes that were genetically modified and have this self limiting gene. When these males mate with wild female mosquitoes, the self limiting gene is passed on to their offspring, and this gene causes the offspring to die before reaching adulthood, basically reducing the overall mosquito population over time.

That is just one example of GMO mosquitoes. So mosquitoes, they get it on, it's hot, it's heavy, they make so many babies, but all of their babies are genetically programmed to bite the proverbial dust before they can mature enough to bite you. So thanks, gene editing. Now, what about doing them dirty with bacteria? Many of you, including Kyla C, Zoe, Megahem, Scott Sheldon, asked about a specific mosquito reduction strategy by name and a name that I could not at first pronounce.

But on the other side, we have a more natural alternative, which is our Wolbachia infected mosquitoes. So wolbachia, which I am a Wolbachia fan, I did my PhD on Wolbachia. What the hell is it? It's a bacteria that has evolved to live inside the cells of many insects. So it's been here for a while, and it's maintained this lifestyle for tens and thousands of years.

Wolbachia can't live outside of the insect cells because it does not have the necessary machinery to replicate without help from an insect host, basically meaning that Wolbachia cannot survive in the environment, the air, or the soil. And so Wolbachia has been used in a variety of different places. And none of the governments that have had Wolbachia in their country have considered it a genetically modified technology. Oh, it's not a virus or a parasite, and it's not a gene drive in the conventional sense, but it does serve its purpose. Okay, so Wolbachia, it's small, globby looking bacteria.

Alie Ward
It looks kind of like a round piece of pepperoni pizza under a microscope. And it was first discovered in the 1920s by this bacteriologist, Simeon Wobach, who started getting into infectious diseases after he did some particularly pesky fieldwork and I'm guessing then had a lifelong vendetta, which has helped us all. So Wolbachia bacteria, it works to control some invasive and pesky critters as well as alter the way that some viruses can function. According to the 2020 study, the antiviral effects of the symbiont bacteria, wolbachia, in insects. And the study notes that in some mosquito species, the inner goop of the cell incompatibility allows wolbachia to invade insect populations by causing embryonic mortality when uninfected females mate with infected males.

It made me so sad to think of how many mosquito ladies blame themselves for infertility, when really they don't know that they fell in love with a mansquito who was a government plant. But in reading more about Wolbachia, I learned that it tends to hang out in ovaries and testes of its hosts, and it can turn males into females, and it can cause asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, which means virgin birth. I don't like the name, but I like the concept. Let's give it up for Wolbachia, which honestly deserves some celebration as a catalyst for gender queer critters. And for more on gender identity and hormones, we have a neuroendocrinology episode that you might love.

But also doctor Wer Gilmore says that as the globe kind of heats up, those relationships between Wolbachia and mosquitoes may be changed by thermal sensitivity. And so cholecidologists need to keep an eye on the data as temperatures change in terms of how effective the bacteria is in curbing mosquito populations. And this is a natural property of the bacteria. And so we've used this in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Is it hard to make that widespread?

How many mosquitoes do you have to release in order for that trend to take over? Yeah, you need, like, one good influencer. The project management and the outreach and education that is need for a Wolbachia response. And basically, establishment is very intense. You first, you know, you want to go out into these communities to help them understand what Wolbachia is, because at the end of the day, you do have to release more mosquitoes to see an impact take place.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So we can use Wolbachia in a few different ways. So when we release wolbachia infected mosquitoes, they can suppress the ongoing population because they are infecting Wolbachia wild type mosquitoes with this bacteria, and the offspring are no longer able to hatch because they have this wolbachia, they're not viable. And then on the other side of that, we have replacement, which is really good when we think of areas that have endemic dengue or any endemic arbovirus. So these wolbachia infected mosquitoes are going to go into populations, out compete with them and replace them. And when they are replacing them, these viruses, these pathogens are not growing as well inside of the mosquito.

So you have virus that is less likely to be taken on by the mosquito, and then with that, that mosquito is less likely to transmit virus to people. I like it. I like it. Wolbachia has been used and I think has been implemented with dengue, but also chikungunya. I think there is more work to be done with the other arboviruses, but from the top of my head, we've really focused on dengue and chikagunya.

Alie Ward
Oh, that's. I didn't even know about wobbakia. Also wabakia. Great name, too. Yeah.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
And you have different strains of Wolbachia that infect different species. And so, you know, the good thing about Wolbachia is that Wolbachia strains that naturally infect mosquitoes are unlikely to affect other animals, including humans. And so, hopefully, to some extent, that provides comfort to people. So, Wolbachia, don't be afraid, unless you're a mosquito who would like to start a family. Also, chikungunya, it's not something that you want on a menu because it's an eighties mosquito borne virus.

Alie Ward
It causes fever and joint swelling. It causes muscle aches and a horrible rash that can cover even the soles of the feet. And chikungunya's etymology means to become contorted because you can be in so much pain. Most people survive, but studies show that virtually no one enjoys having it. But back to Wolbachia, which doctor wear Gilmore studied for her PhD and even published a 2021 paper on it titled microbes increase thermal sensitivity in the mosquito aedes aegypti, with the potential to change disease distributions.

And in terms of the methodology, I was reading it, and the paper states that first we fed dengue to nine day old mated female mosquitoes via a blood meal. And I'm assuming very much that since it was dengue tainted, that this was not the researcher's blood. But do they do that for other studies? Do they have to use their own blood? Earl of Gramilken had a great question.

When researchers stick their arm in an enclosure to feed lab mosquitoes their own blood, how do you not die of itching the next day? Who would voluntarily do that? And is there a magic anti bug treatment? So, yeah, as a person who has stuck her hand in a mosquito cage to just, you know, it happens because, you know, we're. We are.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
We're providing husbandry services to these mosquitoes. We're feeding them. We make sugar water for them. Like, we basically give them a bottle of hawaiian punch, and we're like, you know, here's today's meal. So we have to change those daily.

We have to provide them with egg laying resources after we've blood fed them. But from the people I've talked to who have worked with mosquitoes for a long time, they've basically just said that they've built up tolerance to mosquito bites for people who are just working with them early on. And you are itchy. Like, I'm not going to lie. It's itchy and it's uncomfortable, and sometimes there's a bit of swelling.

But hot water works wonders on new mosquito bites. And for me, I actually wrap that area that I have the mosquito bite up with neosporin and a bandage so I'm not scratching it and putting myself at risk for secondary infections. Ah. And if you're like, wait. A doctor on TikTok told me that neosporin was canceled.

Alie Ward
The scoop behind that is that neosporin contains this antibiotic called neomycin, and some dermatologists say to avoid it because it can cause a secondary reaction of contact dermatitis. And if you're one of those very lucky people affected by that, you might think that your infection has gotten worse. Your skin will look worse. So if you've ever used neosporin and gotten, like, crustier, bigger welts, well, skip that stuff. Doctors say just washing with soap and water and then slugging by smearing on some vaseline or aquaphor can do neosporin's other job, which is keeping things moist and protected.

But why are we even talking about this? Why are patrons Katie Harris, Bjorn Fredberg's Alva, Emily Burns, Alexander von Fritzibitz and his mom Tinaz. And first time askers Caitlin Hill, Josie Rutherford, and Ben Kmo asking for itching info. Why are we itching for it? Or in Nova Q's words, why do they dump the itchy juice in your skin after sucking your blood?

I'd be fine with donating. They don't have to give me anything. What is it about mosquito bites that makes them itch? Is it our immune histamine reaction to it? Is it something in their salivary glands?

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Okay, so when mosquitoes are blood feeding, they inject the saliva into your skin, which contains proteins that help them feed. And so your body's immune system sees these proteins as foreign invaders, and they release histamines to counteract them. And so histamines trigger an inflammatory response, causing the area around the bite to swell and itch. So essentially, your body's reaction to the mosquito saliva is what is making you itchy. It's not you, it's me.

Alie Ward
Your body's creeped out by it. It's like, I don't get what this is. I'm gonna freak out just in case it's something bad. Yeah. And I mean, ideally, you know, your body is just doing its job.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
It's just like, an unfortunate reaction because mosquito bites are not fun. Do some people's immune systems just react more to it? Is that why some people get blisters and some people get welts? For sure, yeah. Some people are just very sensitive to mosquito bites, and that is, like, on a person by person basis.

Like, again, I mentioned that some people can build up tolerance to mosquito bites, but that also might just be to the mosquito population that they have been exposed to growing up. They could go to a different location and be exposed to a completely different mosquito genus and species, and those flare ups could be completely different because your immune system is no longer used to basically that foreign invader, and it is going to be releasing different histamines to counteract that bite. So, like, if you go on vacation and you have a different kind of mosquito biting you, that might be why. Those ones, for sure. Oh, wow.

Alie Ward
I never realized that. I don't know if this is because of the sawing into the capillaries, but when I get bites, I mean, just casually, I get bites, I get bruises next to them. Oh, really? Oh, wow. Yeah.

Which, I mean, I bruise easily, but I'm like, that's weird. So maybe that's just the capillary kind of bleeding out, normal stuff. I looked into this for my own selfish reasons. And in case any of you out there, even one of you, is, like, on a trail, run screaming into the woods. Yes, yes, yes.

That is me, too. And I got a few answers. Okay, so, yeah, that little bruise next to a mosquito bite might be just some excess blood dripping into your surrounding skin and showing up as, like, a little wee contusion. And you may be more prone to getting them if you're on blood thinners or aspirin or even certain antidepressants. And you may recall, I hope you don't, but you may recall a secret I told at the end of an episode a few months back wherein I had to admit to myself and to you that I had so much bruising that I took myself to the doctor to test for leukemia.

But it turns out that I just love the taste of baby aspirin. And I was eating them whenever I had a headache or sometimes when I didn't. And I just wanted a tiny, yummy treat that was in my purse. So don't do that at all because your dentist will notice your gums bleeding, you will be bruised, you will be alarmed, and it's not great for you to thin your own blood when you don't need to. Just get a pack of smarties or some sour patch kids if you're that desperate.

Also, there exists a malady. I learned this through this episode called Skeeter syndrome. And patron Paulina tar suspects that their boyfriend may have this because certain types of mosquitoes make his skin, quote, look like pink bubble wrap, which is not something any of us need to visualize. And it's caused by the salivary peptides in certain mosquito populations and the body's allergic reactions to them. And studies have shown that the antihistamine cetirizine is helpful for Skier syndrome.

If you're like, where the fuck am I supposed to obtain that? Dad? First off, don't get mad at me. I'm not a mosquito. But yes, cetirizine is just available over the counter.

It's dessert tech. Calm down. Also, Skeeter syndrome. Is that a real diagnosis? It is.

And I was comfort to learn that Wikipedia is also dismayed and just offers with a shrug that although the term seems informal, the website size Skeeter syndrome has appeared in scientific literature. Now a side note. If you ever see a streak, like a reddish streak inflamed that is growing from a bite or even maybe a little cut, get the to an ER ASAP because that could be a staph infection spreading through your circulatory system. And fatal, take it from a lady that once had that. So keep an eye on those things.

Now for patrons needing relief, I'm looking at you. Mozzie magnets. Carol Young, Elena Dawn W. Brenda Temple, Sarah Williamson, Charlotte Parkinson, and Naomi Jaime try and antihistamine the bad bites, but it also helps to have some topical hydrocortisone on hand, which is just topical cortisol. And it reduces inflammatory response locally.

And it also helps summon up your body's own anti inflammatory talents. It's like, hey, we need you over here. And a few patrons wrote in and they offered their folk remedies like digging an x into the bite with your fingernail. Sam Gilbert and Samantha Denhollander and tea Danilovic and Timothy Nolan, which I had never heard. And Alyssa Elliott asked about this electronic gadget you can get they call called it the heat Bernie thingy and Steve Kelam says that they rub papain powder, which is this papaya enzyme, into fresh mosquito bites because it can break down the salivary proteins associated with itching.

And that's available just at the grocery store. It's used to tenderize steaks, but Steve warns, don't use the seasoned meat tenderizer. Copy that. Now, do any of those folk remedies work? Why does it itch at all?

So it's long been a mystery itching. But one paper titled a subpopulation of nociceptors specifically linked to itch spelled out that certain pain receptors may be just begging you to scratch. And that things like marking an x with your fingernail or zapping a mosquito bite with that little heat gun can tweak your pain receptors to pay attention to that sensation instead of the itch. And for more on pain and distraction, you can see the wonderful dolerology episode with Doctor Rachel Zofnis all about it. And another thing that might help, try to think about something other than the itch.

Maybe like global warming. Now, are mosquito populations changing with temperature and humidity? Some patrons, Renee Kay Spencer, James Parks, Andrea Devlin, Katie Hammond, and first timers Cameron and Erin White, who asked, will every season be mosquito season? Now, are we shifting toward a permanent mosquito hellscape? Maybe?

Also, Heather Horton Whedon wants to know. I used to live up in the Yukon territory. And up there, way up north, there was, it seemed like there were about nine different kinds of mosquitoes and different. Sizes and level of aggression and such. And time of the year.

Are there a number of different sizes, types and when they bloom, when they bite more? I'm just curious as it definitely seemed as though there was different sizes, types and times of year when they were most around. Thank you so much. If you answered my question, you know, mosquito activity is going to vary throughout the year depending on factors like temperature, humidity and rainfall. In many places, mosquito activity increases during the warmer months of the spring and summer.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
However, in some region, mosquitoes can be active year round if the climate remains favorable for their survival. Prime example is Puerto Rico.

And certain species of mosquito may have specific peaks seasons based off their behavior and their overall habitat preference. Have you noticed that you're getting bitten more since you moved there? The mosquitoes here are terrifying.

I have never. I was like, I'm gonna be fine. I've worked with Aedes aegypti and then I feel like I am being mugged every time I go outside of my house because the mosquitoes are so aggressive here. And Aedes aegypti, anyway, is a very hardy and aggressive mosquito. But I'm quite scared of the mosquitoes here in Puerto Rico.

They are hardy. And their bites, like, for me, I'm just like, I need to go take a hot shower because my legs are covered. I mean, I guess it keeps you passionate about your work. It does. But also, sometimes I'm like, I just want to sit outside today.

And the mosquitoes are like, I see you have on bicycle shorts today. That's really interesting that you would expose all of that skin to me. And it's like, I'm just trying to work from home. They're like, ma'am, I love what you're wearing. Right?

Yeah, it's wild. Yeah. So I have noticed, you know, here, and, like, I do the whole nine yards. I, for the most part, you know, I shouldn't, if I'm going outside, I should be wearing longer clothes. But at the end of the day, you know, it's hard to be perfect with everything when it comes to mosquito bite prevention.

But I apply my deet. I apply my Picardon. I use, like, sixturenella candles. I use mosquito coils. And those things help.

But when I forget to use those things, I really notice that I have a lot of mosquito bites. I was just going to ask about that because so many patrons, patrons who wanted to know about repellents include Josie Rutherford, Edward McGregor, Liz Rebecca Fitzgibbon, and a few more, including Bridget wall. First time question Asker wants to know, does DEEt harm you? So many people want to know. Kristin Hurley, first time question asker, does citronella really repel them?

Alie Ward
Picardin Diet. So many people want to know about, like, plant based repellents. Yeah. What does a cholcidologist use to try to get mosquitoes to kindly move on. Yes.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So this is gonna be so fun. Let's break it down. So I do agree with you that deep DEET can be harsh for people who have sensitive skin. I have cousins who can't use DEET because it is harsh. But DEET is safe.

Like any chemical, it can cause some effects if it's not used appropriately. And in rare cases, again, it can cause skin irritation. But it's important to really follow the instructions on the product label carefully when you're using these. But if DEET is too harsh for you, there are other options. You can use picardin, which I generally suggest to people who are maybe on the more sensitive side, and also oil of lemon eucalyptus.

There are other options that you can use as well. We have these, we call them spatial repellent. So these are devices like plug in or aerosol sprays or coils that have insecticides impregnated into the device in some form. Maybe it's a clip in, maybe it's like something you burn. And this basically provides a protective zone against some assistance mosquitoes outdoors.

And so it is going to be emitting a chemical that deters the mosquito, but also provides effective protection against bites. So I really enjoy, I really like spatial repellents, especially when I'm outdoors. And you can find all different types. Some of them use transfluthrin or methoflutherin. Again, these are different types of insecticides, but the main goal is that they're providing a barrier from the mosquitoes and your likelihood of getting bitten as quite lower because of that.

Alie Ward
So Madison Armand, Jade Bakam Randall, Emily Schwann, Erin Gill, who is a self proclaimed mosquito snack and first time question askers Carly Reynolds and Rafael Santore wanted to know, what about sonic ones or smoke? Yeah, those are. I don't. I don't use those. And maybe I'm just biased because I don't feel like I've seen enough evidence supporting those devices.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
But I can say the main takeaway is that if it is EPA approved and it's gone through a quality review, then it is probably more than likely okay to use and safe for you and your family to use. And patron Jennifer Huesman says, I've had great success all caps with thermocell products in tropical areas and northern Minnesota, but I need more than one to set up a perimeter. And Maddie Salon, whose husband is irresistible to mosquitoes, asked, do cartridge based electric mosquito repellents like Thermocell actually work? And I had actually never heard of these. And I looked into it, and there's this New York Times piece titled why we love Thermocell.

Alie Ward
So I was like, all right, tell me. And it explained, these little gadgets use heat to diffuse this really small amount of repellent into the air. And it making, like, a 20 foot bubble that should be safe for mosquitoes. And the repellent is a secret formula. It's proprietary.

But the New York Times reports that the active chemical is either metoflutherin or elethrin, which they say numerous studies have proven to be effective spatial repellents for mosquitoes. And they've both undergone thorough vetting by the EPA and other regulatory agencies. They say. So these thermocell things, they have, like, 20,000 reviews on Amazon, so I decided to read every single one of them. No, I didn't, but I did read a couple, and one five star review states, I live in south Texas.

The mosquitoes here drink bug spray for breakfast, but this has made it to where I can actually sit outside without being swarmed. So I guess try a thermocell. And I know I don't get any money for this to spend on my own thermocell, sadly. But check your local hardware store and keep them in business. Now, if you have DEET, though, and you want to use it most effectively, this recent consumer Reports article titled how safe is Deet?

Notes that experts say that the percentage of deet in the spray doesn't correlate to how well it works, but rather how long it lasts, kind of like sunscreen, and that a 25% to 35% deet spray is effective enough for several hours. This article also advises against spraying it into your eyes, so don't do that or your mouth. Rather, just spray it on your hands. And then you rub it over your face like a little hamster who's waking up from a nap. And you can also spray it on your clothes and then let it dry before you put them on.

But at the end of the day, take shower or wash off your skin. Also, don't spray it on babies under two months old. What do I spray on my baby? Then? You ask.

I don't know. It's your baby. That's up to you and the baby. I'm also not a doctor, but the CDC and the World Health Organization approve picari, which was created using inspo from pepper plants. And there's also oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is said to work at concentrations around 30%, but not for kids under three.

So ask y'all's pediatricians. You can also get a mosquito net for a stroller, too. Patron Christine Hurley asked a great question, wanted to know, why can't I put deet into my blood so they die? I don't have an answer to that. So for the time being, an intravenous drip of deep woods off tempting.

Don't do it, Julie Noble wrote in saying child of the eighties and nineties here. What's in Avon's skin so soft that makes people swear by it for repelling mosquitoes? And Katie also asked about this jazzercise era secret skeeter shield, and I looked into it for all the latchkey gen xers out there who want to know why Avon's skin so soft, this after bath spray and oil conveniently repels some living creatures. And it contains this chemical friend known as IR 3535. It's a three n butyln acetyl aminopropionic acid, simple, and it's structurally related to this naturally occurring amino acid in our bodies.

And yes, unlike the untethered freedom of a pre Internet childhood, Avon skin so soft is still available, and most of its five star reviews cite not its use as a cosmetic or a bath oil, but rather its efficacy against mosquitoes. Although there was one review I read which didn't mention both, the user just gushing, I love this stuff. I keep it in my kitchen to remove sticky SAP and oil from things. So. Okay, works for a lot of things.

You can also use it on your kibbles and bits. Excuse me. Adam Weaver and Paige menking had a question shared by Conchetta. Gibson wants to know. Mosquito dunks and bits really only harm mosquito larvae.

I have no idea what a bit and a dunk is, but Adam Weaver and Paige menkeng also asked about dunk and bits, and it doesn't sound family friendly. Your dunkin bits, what is that? So the first time I thought about mosquito bits, I was like, oh yeah, what are these? But mosquito dumps are basically a type of larvicide that we use. It's like a biological larvicide.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So they have this bacteria in them called bacillus. There are a few different types. And so basically that bacteria targets the mosquito larvae stomach and digestive system, and so they just slowly die because of the bacteria. You know, there are different forms of this bacteria that can be used for different, I guess you could say entomological control. But the ones that we use in the mosquito dunks are ideal for mosquitoes.

Alie Ward
Ah, okay. And shouldn't really have any off target effects. So the bits of dunks and bits comes from the name of this soil bacterium, bacillus thuringiensis israelinus, or Bti, if you're close friends. This soil bacteria kills mosquito larvae and it comes in little kibbles, bits or dunks, which look like hostess crumb cake doughnuts, but they can murder baby mosquitoes. Now, can you rely on your own stink, though?

Natalie Raffiner said, mosquitoes love me. Is there something I can do to change my body chemistry to deter them and other folks? Sam Gilbert, Littlesea psy D. Jay Steinbach, Elizabeth Westner, Rob and Carol Hermes, and Dawn W. All asked about body smells or hormones or dietary influences.

And Mander Janers, great question. Says, I don't want to yuck someone's yum but is it true that some species are attracted to smelly feet? Yes, it is true. I feel like I got so excited. So we, this is like a fun story.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So when we are, when I would blood feed for like projects in the lab, I would ask all of my lab mates to give me their smelliest clothes. Like the dirtiest clothes you have. Like if you, if you are a runner, I want all of it. I want your dirty socks. I want your dirty leggings.

Because that bacteria, they love the smell of that bacteria. And so dirty socks, they are rocking it. They love it. I mean, I guess some of the same microbes in smelly feet are in stinky cheese. So can you blame them?

No. I mean, not at all, because I love blue cheese. Right. But it's very interesting because, you know, mosquitoes are attracted to a variety of scents, including those produced by humans. But some bacteria release compounds and lactic acid and ammonia and other byproducts from their metabolism that the mosquitoes really find attractive.

I can't get enough. So it makes sense that they might be attracted to these grosser areas because this is really where the bacteria is getting down to play. So wash those. Wash those feet. Although some studies have shown that a lack of diversity in the skin microbiome can also be attractive.

Alie Ward
But in the 2020 paper, differential attraction in mosquito human interactions and implications for disease Control, researchers note that freshly secreted sweat is odorless and only minorly attractive to mosquitoes. Incubation with bacteria leads to a characteristic smell and is thus more attractive to mosquitoes. But in part one from last week, remember, even if you're just finishing a run and your sweat has not had time to ripen, that huffing out of CO2 is that chemical dinner bell that mosquitoes wait for. But yeah, wash your feet. Yeah, I mean, some people just have naturally stinky feet and they can't help it and are just like, you know, when you're sweating, the bacteria build, you're a little sweaty.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So. So it's hard to work around that. I wonder if that's why people tend to get bites on their ankles or if that's just in between where their socks and their pants are. Again, they're taking advantage of every little piece of skin that you left unexposed. So I think that is exposed skin that they can quickly take a drink from because it's a bit hard for them to bite through clothing.

Not that it's impossible. I've had like a mosquito bite through some really thin leggings I had, but for thicker clothes. It's hard for them to bite through that. Ada wants to know about if mosquitoes tend to like they say, why do mosquitoes seem to like me best when I wear black? Is it because I'm warm seeming, or do they hate goths?

Alie Ward
And is it color related? Like, apparently bees will fly around you more if you're wearing more yellow. Do any cholecidologists look at, like, background colors or anything like that? This was on the minds of Elizabeth Wegener Lyss, first time question asker, Aida and Kirjo M. We, I guess always.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
To attach it to a fun story. We don't wear dark colors in the lab, especially when we're working with the mosquitoes, because they're attracted to that, and it's also just hard to see them when they land on us. But mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors, you know, black, navy, sometimes red, because these colors are absorbing more heat and they also emit more carbon dioxide compared to other colors. So it's because of the heat that we're emitting. These darker colors make us more noticeable to them because, you know, lighter colors are going to keep us cooler, but these darker colors are going to make us sweat and breathe harder, basically for some people.

But I think it's important to know that other factors, such as body odor, body heat, and even movement, also play a significant role in attracting mosquitoes. Yeah, that's so interesting. Laurie B. Says, I heard gingers and fair skinned people are more likely to get bitten. This fair ginger wants to know.

Alie Ward
And Chris Dunk, first time question Asker asked, are mosquitoes drawn to a certain ethnic group? I'm of asian descent, living in the midwest, and notice that all my asian friends tend to get bit more than others. And Jacqueline Church asked the same question. Oh, that's cool. Yeah.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So I think it always comes down to what are these main chemical visual cues that the mosquito are picking up when they're host feeding. So there's this idea that mosquitoes may be attracted to individuals with blood type o. And this is based on a few studies that have found a correlation between blood type and mosquito preference. However, there's still a bit more research that needs to be done with understanding that underlying mechanism. So maybe based on ethnicity and maybe your friends might have a certain type of blood.

I don't know. If you asked your friends what their blood type is, it could be a possibility that they are attracted to mosquitoes because of that reason. And it could also be a possibility that the diet. So maybe people from similar ethnic backgrounds or similar cultural backgrounds might have a similar diet. So diet can really influence how attractive you are to mosquitoes.

Alie Ward
And in part one, we did debunk the folk wisdom of garlic repelling mosquitoes. But there are hypotheses that changes in diet or lifestyle can affect your skin microbiome in case like first time question Asker and vegan Anna Vilni, Zoe and Jacqueline Church asked. They again are primarily attracted to CO2 when we excel in body heat. And there's evidence to suggest that certain components of our diet can affect our body odor, which in turn may influence mosquito attraction. Ah.

Does that mean that you could potentially do the opposite? Like Trevor Ogborn wanted to know, does consuming apple cider vinegar make blood less tasty to them? When I was a kid, I'd get bitten a lot. And we started taking these brewers yeast tablets that tasted absolutely awful to a five year old. But do they do any studies seeing, like, if you can eat something as a repellent.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Mm hmm. On top of, like, smelly foods? I've actually seen a few papers where they talked about how strong smelling foods or compounds like garlic or onion can result in odors being released through your skin. And this actually might make you more attractive to mosquitoes. I know.

And so, like, also similarly, consuming large amounts of alcohol has also been associated with mosquito attraction, possibly due to changes in body odor, but also overall body temperature. Temperature. Oh, no. It's so funny that there's some people being like, why am I getting it all, the seven ones? Why am I drinking in a margarita camp?

Alie Ward
Didn't I? I was just drinking a margarita. Yeah, I was having a salad. Had one picture of them. We had some urban legends.

Mikayla Marshall wanted to know. Flim flam, check. Is it true that you can flex your muscles while a mosquito is biting you and make them explode? Have you ever heard that? So I've seen that.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
I've seen, yes, I've seen it on a video. It wasn't anyone I knew, but I've seen like, the proboscis get stuck in the vessel when a person fleck, like, flex their muscles. But I didn't see the mosquito explode, but I did see, like, it pause and blood feeding. The mosquito definitely looked like something was going on. But I don't know if, if it would be like an exploding mosquito situation.

But I have some pictures of some mosquitoes that look like they are about to pop. I've never seen one pop, but I've seen some huge bellies full of blood, midguts full of blood to the point where it looked like they were going to pop. But I've actually never seen it in person. But they. You do see mosquitoes that will feed until they're engorged to the point where they can't even fly, and they're just, like, sitting down at the bottom of the cage.

Alie Ward
Wow. She's ready to have babies, right? She's gonna do it. She's ready. Yeah.

I could barely move. And a lot of folks asked about. Let's get to maybe a little bit of the. Like the. Oh, no.

Of mosquitoes. Yeah. So many patrons had so many questions about diseases, but first time question asker Bridget Wahl wanted to know how to prevent infections from dengue fever. Chloe Morton, Lauren Cooper, and Remy asked, essentially, why are they so good at carrying diseases? Which seems like kind of like a backhanded compliment, but Liv timbrini, Valerie Hanley, Catherine Sachs, and desimal and Moore's mom wanted to know how mosquitoes kind of launched their collab with malaria.

Can you talk a little bit about malaria? And what parts of the world are more at risk? Some people wanted to know, are there cases of malaria in the US? Where is it most prevalent? And what are researchers looking at to reduce mortality from that?

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Right, so we're just malaria, or just. I mean, go. We can talk about Zika, we can talk about West Nile. We can talk about dengue. Bring it on.

Alie Ward
A buffet of pathogens. Not that I have a favorite, but I very, very close to the dengue branch, so. But malaria is also important, so we can touch on all of them. So, yeah, I guess. Among the most significant disease transmitting genre of galitsys, aedes anopheles, and Culex are the three that we're very much worried about.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So, species from the Aedes genus, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are responsible for transmitting diseases like dengue fever, Zika virus infection, chikagunya and yellow fever. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are a container breeding mosquito that lays its eggs in these water filled containers. So, in part one, we discussed how expectant mosquitoes love, love. Soggy, water laden, discarded tires. Garbage tires, the best.

Alie Ward
So cute. And they're really problematic in urban and suburban areas, where they can easily find suitable breeding sites in and around human habitation. I've heard that even something as big as a bottle cap can be just a maternity ward for babies. Yeah. So, like, half an inch of water or, like, a bottle cap of water is you know, for some of these species, which are very good at taking advantage of these, you know, I guess, off the wall habitats, that is enough for maybe, say, an aedes or anopheles to finish some of its development, maybe not all of it, because the water might dry out in that cap.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
But it is possible, I heard once. That if you wanted to reduce mosquitoes around your house to make sure your gutters are cleaned out, maybe get a bat box. John BucKANSKY, first time question Asker wanted to know, do bats really eat that many mosquitoes and other folks had bat and mosquito predator questions like patron Raya Walo, Theresa Gleeson, Dirty McGurdy, Leah Pralongo, Lindsay James, Karen yet Becky the sassy seagrass scientist, Shiloh Bradford, Andrew Inch, bat Fakit, Hildebeest, Molly H. Oh noie, it's Joey, Steve Kellam and the nasty garden rat who asked, if I get a bathouse, will I finally be free? Yeah.

So, you know, one of the things that we really push on when we talk about integrated vector management. So, utilizing different strategies to prevent mosquito borne disease is source reduction activities. And so this is going to be flipping over habitats that might serve as larval habitats for the mosquito. So where they're laying their eggs, where they're in their aquatic stage, but also that vegetation that might be holding water in gutters might provide enough opportunity for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Is that only standing water, like in a stream or a pond?

Streams are going to be too turbulent for mosquitoes, but you have these different types of mosquito species, like culex, that might be laying eggs, and like stagnant water inside of tree holes, or like in swamps, marshes or rice fields. Especially with our anophaline mosquitoes, we see a lot of rice field and marsh habitat being utilized. So it is species specific, but a pond that has some, maybe like a current going, might be a little bit harder for them to settle down in. And are mosquito nets as effective in saving lives as we've heard? So, yeah, anopheles mosquitoes are another mosquito vector, main vectors for malaria, and they transmit a parasite called plasmodium.

They're different types of plasmodium species. And so these mosquitoes are typically breeding in freshwater habitats like swamps and rice fields. And malaria has resulted in a lot of severe illness and death, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. And so one tool that we use against malaria transmission is through mosquito nets, and they help in preventing bites, especially in regions where malaria might be endemic. But for anopheles, these are going to be mosquitoes that are typically more active at night when people are at home sleeping.

And so long lasting insecticide nets are treated with insecticides that repel or kill mosquitoes, and they're very effective. These nets, again, not also provide a physical barrier, but they can also kill mosquitoes that come into contact with them. Oh, wow. Based on the dosing of the netting. So for mosquito nets to be fully effective, it's really important that they're used properly and maintained.

So that means repairing any holes or tears in the netting and regularly retreating them with the insecticide of choice. And on the topic of these nets, we're going to take a quick break for sponsors of the show who made it possible for us to donate to the malaria no More foundation, which has worked for nearly two decades, campaigning to end malaria and make a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. So far, well over 2 billion mosquito nets have been distributed in areas hit hardest by malaria transmission, and over 7 million lives estimated have been saved. Find out more@malarianomore.org dot. And thanks again to sponsors of the show for making that donation possible on Shark Week, the podcast from Discovery Channel, separate shark fact from shark fiction.

Alie Ward
Could you combine a shark and a human? Does the megalodon have ancestors alive? Now, with the help of experts in the field, uncover the scientific explanation behind these shark tales. Listen to Shark Week, the podcast, wherever you get your podcasts, and watch Shark Week starting July 7 on Discovery and Max. Woo hoo hoo.

Well, this show is sponsored by Betterhelp, and so's my brain. I use better help. Listen, we're almost halfway through this year. What else do you want for the rest of the year? What do you want for you is the question.

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I know I usually save my secrets for the end of the episode, but I'm going to tell you my secret favorite candy. It's Reese's peanut butter cups. It's really Reese's. Anything but. Reese's peanut butter cups are the thing that I'm like, have I had a bad day?

I get these. Have I had a good day? I get these chocolate salty peanut butter. The textures. I love everything about them.

Also that there's two. So I'm like, oh, I get this one for later, which is 1 second later. Anyway. Reese's peanut butter cups. I love you.

That's all. If you're me, you can shop Reese's peanut butter cups now at a store near you. Found wherever candy is sold. And I am okay, where were we? Where were we?

Nets. Let's talk nets. I've seen two options. Some people use nets in Puerto Rico, for example. In a lot of these balcony patio situations, people use nets as a secondary level in addition to their screens when they just want to make sure that the bugs don't get inside.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
But you also have treated nets, which are even more helpful. They both can help with bug bite prevention, but having ones that are insecticide treat it. Give us that knockdown effect that we like to see with, like killing the actual mosquito. A few of you had specific disease questions, like future medical entomologists Sarah Cheney, Rachel Presteco, and Shannon Dermody, who asked, what's the status of the Zika virus? There seems to be not as much of a panic in the news about it.

Alie Ward
I know a few years ago, it was a bigger concern. I feel like we hear about it less, and I don't know if we hear about it less just because the world has gotten a little shittier with pandemics and things like that, or if the numbers have been reduced. Yeah. So, you know, Zika. Zika came in a big wave.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Right now, I think our focus is more on dengue and so over. You know, even this year, dengue became this public health problem around the world, and we're starting to hear more talk about it. So dengue, again, is another mosquito borne virus. It has four different. We call them stereotypes.

Dengue one, two, three, and four. Okay. And side note, good news is that Zika is less of a concern than it was in 2015 and 2016 because control and interventions worked well. Now, dengue, that's another story, which has, again, four different serotypes or variations. So you can get dengue and become immune to that variation for life, but only temporarily immune to the other three serotypes.

And around the world, dengue cases are really rising at an alarming rate. So I think our focus has shifted a little bit. But I do not think this means that people are pulling their attention away from Zika. I just don't think we're seeing as much of it as we are for some of these other mosquito borne viruses. Patron, sleepyfrog Lauren also wanted to know, how worried should people in North America be of dengue, or really anywhere?

Alie Ward
Is there anything that's misunderstood about dengue that you're like, oh, I want to stand on a soapbox and correct this? Yeah, I think, you know, dengue is just very complicated because what happens is because of the immune response after being exposed to dengue one time, the second time someone is infected, they're higher risk for severe dengue. And so that's what we're really worried about in these areas that have endemic dengue and are experiencing outbreaks of different stereotypes that they've previously seen before. So dengue is most prevalent in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and in East Africa. So doctor Ware Gilmore also notes that most cases of dengue in the United States continentally are travel associated and locally acquired.

Cases of dengue in the US occur in Puerto Rico, which is currently seeing an uptick of dengue two and three serotypes, which is a problem because the last dengue outbreak in Puerto Rico was a decade ago, and it was a different serotype it was dengue one that time, which means no immunity lasting to the other three varieties. So Puerto Rico, for example, is on it when it comes to trapping and public outreach and larvicide and fieldwork to monitor mosquito populations. And Fallon says, at the end of the day, it's really important that we hit, hit the mosquito with everything that we have and we layer our prevention strategy. So that is our big worry right now. And then adding on climate change and its impacts on mosquito populations and urbanization and globalization, a lot of these vector borne diseases are, you know, it's going to take a multilevel approach to address them, but it's going to take all of our effort in really getting to, I wouldn't say elimination of some of these vector borne diseases, but reducing the burden globally.

Does science and epidemiology and entomology need more people working on this, as that ecology might be changing? Always. I would love to see more entomologists and epidemiologists. So for CDC, they recently created this initiative called the VBD National Strategy. VBD stands for vector borne disease.

So vector borne disease national strategy. And so this is basically was put in place by different us federal entities in response to the increasing cases of vector borne diseases that we've seen globally. So the hope is that they will be able to come up with these set of approaches that can be used in different territories, but also in the states, and addressing the needs, but also research challenges. When we talk about climate change and mosquito borne disease transmission, but also other vector borne disease transmission. But, you know, the more people, the better.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
I think the more hands and the more people that we have from different backgrounds studying this topic will really allow us to address the ongoing needs that might pop up in the future. I know this is not the type of research you're talking about, but egg Nogg, waylow and Trevor Ogborn wanted to know Jurassic park, could that happen? I love Jurassic park, but I know, I'm sure people are like, I don't want and hear about mosquitoes coming from dinosaurs. Using sophisticated techniques, they extract the preserved blood from the mosquito and bingo, dino DNA. But, you know, I think we've all seen Jurassic park.

You know, the memorable mosquito and the amber, which actually wasn't a mosquito, it was a crane fly. But it's okay. I think in the new jurassic park, they actually use a toxo rhynch mosquito, which is much better because at least it's still a mosquito. But, you know, mosquitoes do have a history that stretches back millions of years. Even to dinosaurs.

And there's been fossil evidence that, including specimens preserved in amber. And so among some of these fossils, we have species dating back to the mesozoic era, and particularly the jurassic and the cretaceous period, when dinosaurs were roaming the earth. Regarding whether mosquitoes were feeding on dinosaurs, it's plausible, given I think, they're coexistent. But I think there are a lot of different specifics of the interactions that remain uncertain, like the environmental conditions, the habitat preferences of the mosquitoes then, but also, were they actually able to feed off of dinosaurs? Like, that's thick skin and also other aspects of a potential mosquito dinosaur interaction that we just don't know enough about.

But, you know, possible, maybe. I like to think so. What about digestive enzymes? Would that just break down the blood immediately? Um.

I'm not sure about that. Yeah, we don't know. We don't know. We don't know. Yeah.

Alie Ward
Um, you know, speaking of extinction. Hi, this is Rachel from La Pine in Oregon. And I've always thought that if mosquitoes went extinct, that the world would be perfectly fine and carry on. But maybe I'm wrong about that. I'm probably wrong about that.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
So I'm curious if you could please tell us what would happen if all of the mosquitoes in the world went extinct. Thank you. As long as we're just indulging in fantasies. Patron, Mallory Avery asked. Let's say we could just eliminate mosquitoes.

Alie Ward
Would that be really bad, environmentally, economically, any other way? I'm not sure if Mallory is a mob boss, but Mallory is not alone. Also, scheming and wondering about mosquito extinction were literally over 50 people. So I'm going to highlight the first time question askers. Lorelei, Kate Arnold, Josie Rutherford, and Jo a, all of whom just slammed into patreon with a debut question that chose violence, understandably.

Would that be a bad thing? Yeah. Well, no, you'd be out of a. Job, so that'd be bad. I mean, it would do good for a lot of people.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Again, there are, you know, those three main genre of mosquitoes that we talked about, aedes, anopheles, and culects, have done a lot of things to our, you know, society and have, unfortunately, have resulted in a lot of. A lot of death. But I think it's important to touch on that. Mosquitoes do have other purposes, evolutionary purposes. So.

So they can provide a food source for other animals, such as birds and bats and other insects, but they also provide pollination services. So, you know, ideally, we could say if we got rid of these big three genre, what could that do for the rate of death and fatality that we're seeing caused by vector borne disease that might assist us with that? But who's to say that another vector species wouldn't come in and utilize that niche and start the process all over again, right? Because there are other types of flies that can blood feed, like biting midges, but they don't typically transmit the pathogens that we've been talking about. So maybe we could get rid of the ones that are very bothersome.

But I don't think we need to eradicate all of our mosquito species. You know, they're not exactly a keystone species, but they do have a very important role in our ecosystem, and it would be unfortunate for us to just, you know, say, do away with them not fully knowing their role or, you know, their future role, current role, I guess, on this earth. Remember, remember, okay. Only, like, three quarters of mosquito species consume blood, and only half of that three quarters are females who take blood meals. So that makes three, eight of mosquitoes, like.

Alie Ward
Like, just over a third of the mosquitoes on planet Earth want to saw through your skin to steal a microliter of your life. Now, 54 of you patrons had the same question, a few among you, Annabelle Cheshay, Doug Pace, Patrick Duffy, Emily, who pleaded, please tell me something good mosquitoes do so I can hate them less. And Karen Larson, who asked simply, mosquitoes. Why they're a buffet for others. So the larvae, when they are in their aquatic stage, fish love them.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Other aquatic insects eat them up, birds and bats. So they are providing a food resource for a lot of animals. Again, they're having to eat a lot of these larvae. But, you know, we also get other stuff from mosquitoes. The larvae help with nutrient cycling and aquatic habitats because they're helping us break down this decaying organic material.

Alie Ward
I love the idea that they're kind of like popcorn shrimp to fish. Just, I like to think of them. As, like, little fried onion straws, just enough at the top. Like, it's not their main meal, but it's just like, a little, like, here's a sprinkle of, like, caviar or something. Last listener question.

Mara Dwyn, first time question. Asker, wants to know, are there any mosquito cameos or positive mosquito representation in media that make mosquitologists happy? So we have conferences on mosquitoes, and there are different types of mosquito abatement groups, mosquito control groups that have really done so good in their advertisements of how mosquitoes are portrayed and how people interpret them. So you have like, here at the Puerto Rico vector control unit. But she is, like, the most friendliest, cutest mosquito.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
She has a bow on her head. But I think things like that, an advertisement like that, really help people become more integrated into the outreach and education initiatives that are now necessary in an integrated vector management approach. Another cute thing, Mozzie. I had never heard the word mozzie until I met you, Mozzie. Yeah.

So I. And this is all on my lab. So my lab came from Australia, moved to Penn State, and it was a word that they frequently used, and I think it has australian origin, like a nickname in Australia. And it just caught on. It is my favorite thing.

I don't know why more people don't use it, but it is the cute. And I guess that's, like, that has made it more approachable to my friends and family because I don't always call them mosquitoes. I sometimes call them mozzies. And I guess it's a bit more comforting to them. It's, like, not as aggressive.

Like, right. When you think about mosquitoes, you're like, kill em, right? Yeah, yeah. But when you're like, mozzies, you're like, oh, okay. Like, she's fancy.

Like, that's a fancy mosquito. Yeah. They sound like fancy, sparkly little babies when you call it mozzies. Yeah, I like it. Now that I know that they are sparkling hummingbird surgeons, just trying to have babies.

Just trying to have babies, just trying to do what they. They were put on, you know, the earth to do. And, you know, they. They're. She's just, like, trying to be a good mom.

Alie Ward
So if you don't want her using your blood and iron, just wear some pants. Wear some pants. Wear long sleeves. Wear light colored clothes. Use a repellent that works for you.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
Like, Deet is not for everyone. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is not for everyone. There are so many options on the market that are EPA approved. I know you can find something that works for you and your children. So, you know, don't be scared because you don't like Deet.

I promise you, there are so many options out there, and a lot of these companies that make these, these repellents are really doing a good job at trying to go the more natural route and use things that are better for sensitive skin. And if you're like, why haven't you talked about citronella? More patrons. Ellen supreme overlord Jen, Valerie Hanley Chasmore, Kelly Shaver, Gemma and Atticus Atlas wanted to know. And citronella does work a little bit.

Citronella does work a little bit, but it's not my favorite. Okay. All right. And last questions I always ask. Worst thing about your job, something about whether it's jet lag or sticking your hand in a box of mosquitoes or paperwork, there must be something that makes you groan a little.

So I will say, you know, my interactions with mosquitoes have changed quite a bit. I felt like earlier on, I was quite hands on with mosquitoes, but in this public health position with the department of Health, I don't get as much mosquito 101 time. And so I kind of hate that. I miss being in the lab, and I know that's, like, not the. Like the paperwork, but I do miss my lab time, and I enjoyed working with them.

But, I mean, emails. Any, anytime, I'll say emails. Sometimes I'm just like, I don't know how to reply to this email. Can someone help me? I always love that.

Alie Ward
Like, sticking your arm in a mesh box full of hungry mosquitoes isn't as pesky as email. No, actually, that tells us so much better society. Yeah, I think I'd rather. So we would dissect mosquitoes in lab to, like, pick apart different body parts, like their mid gut and, like, their carcass and legs. I think I'd rather do that five days a week than reply to emails.

Oh, that makes me feel so much better. No. Yeah. No, you're not the only one. No one wants emails.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
No one wants to reply to emails universally. Now, what about your favorite thing? Cause you're so passionate. And that's one reason why I wanted to talk to you for so long. You're so good at what you do.

Alie Ward
What do you love the most about it? So I have always been called to outreach and education for entomology, and I love just teaching people about the small little creature and what it can do. And so being able to go out into communities and provide resources for them and educational material, materials, and to kind of get. Understand where they are and understand their concerns has been not only eye opening, it's allowed me growth that I didn't think I needed early on, but it's kind of opened my eyes to, like, you know, what are the challenges people are facing that I might have not thought of challenges. And it's really allowed me to put that into my work, especially working at the CDC.

Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
I'm so excited to be able to sit down at a table and talk about the developmental cycle of mosquitoes or to, you know, even show sometimes the insect fair. And we would bring male mosquitoes to the fair so people could put their hand in the cage because the mosquitoes don't bite. Males aren't blood feeding and the kids faces. It was so exciting. Like, I just.

I love stuff like that. Thank you for making so much time for this particular outreach. I really am so excited to talk to you. This has been a big one on my list for a long time. This is great.

And thank you so much for your support over these last few years. Like, it's. I was like, oh, I cannot wait to the day that I can finally get on here with Ally once I have my life together and I finally had my life together that I was like, I can do this now. I love that. For me, my life together is like, I wash the dishes for yours.

Alie Ward
You're like, I have a PhD and I'm working with the CDC to prevent unnecessary deaths. Very different metrics. I need to do my dishes as well. Don't get me wrong, my other life is this and that's a whole different conversation. So ask marvelous people mosquito questions if they are cholecidologists such as Doctor Fallon Ware Gilmore, who you can follow on Xe Fowl.

It's linked in the show notes. She's on Instagram, oxyfowl, and we are ologies on Instagram and Twitter. I'm lieward on both smologies is our new spinoff show in its own subscribable feed, just in time for summer. It's kid and classroom safe. They're shorter cuts of classic episodes and you can subscribe the link in the show notes.

Please do tell your friends about both ologies and homologies that helps us so much. Thank you so much, patrons, for all of your wonderful questions. You can join for as little as a dollar a month@patreon.com ologies and submit questions Ologies Merch is available@ologiesmerch.com dot our Ologies podcast Facebook group is admin. By Erin Talbert. Professional transcripts are by Aveline Malik of the wardery.

Noelle Dilworth is our scheduling producer. Susan Hale is our managing director. This episode was edited by Jake Chafee and lead editor who must contend with all of my high pitched buzzing in her ears every week is Mercedes Maitland of Maitland audio. Stick around next week where she hosts a 300th episode anniversary all about psychom and the making of the show. She'll be hosting.

I'll be guesting. It's going to be wacky now. Nick Thorburn wrote the theme music and if you stick around until the end of the episode. I tell you a secret, and this week it's that I found out approximately a few hours ago that whey protein gives you zits. Does everyone know that?

I was like, I'm lifting weight. I'm trying to get a little more muscle mass. I'll make myself a little milkshake, kind of a situation with protein in it. And then my whole face becomes angry and inflamed. And I never put the two of them together until right now, like, six months, where I'm like, skin, whose side are you on?

What are you doing? So there you go. If you're trying to bulk up and get some guns for the summer, watch that weight production. Maybe it's completely fine with you. I don't know, but I'm just saying, it might not be.

Then again, next week I might be like, it wasn't the whey protein. It was because I was rubbing my face to my dog all the time. Who knows? Tomato, tomato. Okay, bye bye.

Hachodermatology, homeology, cryptozoology, litology, nanotechnology, meteorology, factology, nephrology, serology.

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Culicidology (MOSQUITOES) Part 2 with Fhallon Ware-Gilmore

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1: Introduction to Mosquito Control

2: The Role of Wolbachia

3: Ecological Considerations

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