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It is a fact often trotted out at summer barbecues when mosquitoes are buzzing around — only female mozzies drink blood.The modern male mozzie doesn't have the mouthparts to cause those irritating — and potentially very dangerous — itchy bites. But that was not always the case, according to new research. Closer inspection of two 130-year-old male mosquitoes fossilised in amber has revealed that they too had the mouthparts to suck blood.What is the difference between male and female mosquitoes?Fe …

If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, you know how frustrating their bites can be.The little red bumps swell up almost immediately, creating an itch that once you start scratching only seems to get worse. The more you scratch, the more they itch - starting a vicious cycle that can leave you irritated, sore and covered in red bumps.Some people seem to be mosquito magnets - the insects flock to them wherever they are, leaving bites in any exposed flesh - while others are left relatively unscat …

It's the last thing you want to hear in 2022, cases of the Japanese encephalitis virus have been found in more than 40 piggeries across Australia and moved further south than ever before.Discover what is behind the surge, who is most at risk and how you can protect yourself.https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sundayextra/how-real-is-the-threat-of-the-japanese-encephalitis-virus/13801582Guest:Associate Professor Gregor Devine, Group Leader at the Mosquito Control LaboratoryProducer - Ka …

The CSIRO has warned Australians to be more vigilant about our spindliest enemies this summer with a surge in mosquito numbers expected amid La Niña weather conditions.Southern and central Queensland have already seen the effects of widespread rain and flooding and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says those conditions are here to stay.Across Queensland this year, there have been more than 200 cases of Barmah Forest virus, and more than 770 cases of Ross River virus – both debilitating mosquito-b …

Byron Shire Council has joined with Northern Rivers councils and the North Coast Public Health Unit to launch the Tackling Mosquitoes Together campaign and free text message program aimed at reducing the disease risks and nuisance of mosquitoes.“A whopping 429 cases of Ross River Virus were reported by the Northern NSW Local Health District in 2020 which is the second highest number of cases on record, up from an average of 135 cases a year over the last 30 years.“Our free SMS text message progr …