Mosquitoes have remarkable powers and a large impact on humans. They can see, smell and sense heat from a considerable distance. They can navigate by the stars at night. They can survive drought for decades.

Unlike most creatures, mosquitoes serve no beneficial purpose other than to make more mosquitoes. They don't aerate the soil, pollinate plants or serve as a preferred item in the food chain for other animals. Many mosquitoes need animal or human blood to provide protein for their eggs. Only the females bite to get that necessary blood. This is the source of our pain and much sickness.

According to a joint statement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

"Mosquito-borne diseases are among the world's leading causes of illness and death today. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million clinical cases each year are attributable to mosquito-borne illnesses. Despite great strides over the last 50 years, mosquito-borne illnesses continue to pose significant risks to parts of the population in the United States."

Diseases caused by mosquitoes include:

"mosquito-borne viral encephalitis, dengue, yellow fever, malaria, and filariasis.

The major types of viral encephalitis in the United States include St. Louis, LaCrosse, Eastern equine and Western equine. These viruses are normally infections of birds or small mammals. During such infections, the level of the virus may increase in these infected animals facilitating transmission to humans by mosquitoes.

The West Nile virus, which can also cause encephalitis, was found in the northeastern United States for the first time in 1999, is a good example of this mode of transmission. Human cases of encephalitis range from mild to very severe illnesses that, in a few cases, can be fatal."

"Dengue is a viral disease transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes. It is usually an acute, nonfatal disease, characterized by sudden onset of fever, headache, backache, joint pains, nausea, and vomiting. While most infections result in a mild illness, some may cause the severe forms of the disease. Dengue hemorrhagic fever, for example, is characterized by severe rash, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding and circulatory failure resulting in dengue shock syndrome and even death. Dengue is endemic in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Recently, dengue has occurred with increasing frequency in Texas.

Other pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes include a protozoan parasite which causes malaria, and Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic roundworm and the causative agent of dog heartworm. Disease carrying mosquito species are found throughout the U.S., especially in urban areas and coastal or in inland areas where flooding of low lands frequently occurs."

Joint Statement on Mosquito Control in the United States from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the full text, go to https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/mosquitojoint.htm

There have been efforts by many governments to control mosquitoes. There are now mosquito control districts in many states that provide monitoring, large scale control, and information. Check the links below for more information about mosquitoes and their control.