Climate Change Affects Mosquito Behaviour
Scientific India|November - December 2022
Changes in climatic factors such as higher temperatures and increased rainfall affect the developmental, behavioural and distribution patterns of insects like mosquitoes.
Jo Adetunji
Climate Change Affects Mosquito Behaviour

These changes have serious implications for the effective control of insect-borne diseases such as malaria.

Worryingly, temperatures across southern Africa are predicted to increase by at least 0.8°C by 2035.

Malaria is currently present in three provinces in South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Limpopo reports 62% of the local cases, while KwaZulu-Natal reports only 6%. Over the past 50 years annual temperatures in South Africa have been increasing significantly faster than the global average. The increases have been most extreme in Limpopo, where temperatures have risen by an average of 0.12°C every decade. Small annual shifts have big effects. These higher temperatures increase the malaria risk. This is because the malaria mosquito and parasite are happiest at temperatures between 17°C and 35°C. Warmer weather means vector mosquitoes are able to develop faster, invade new locations, and spread vector-borne diseases. In addition, increased rainfall will potentially increase the number of mosquito vector breeding sites. Vector mosquitoes like those that transmit malaria breed in stagnant and temporary bodies of water. Research in Limpopo has shown that heavy rains in spring are usually associated with higher malaria case numbers during summer.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2022 من Scientific India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2022 من Scientific India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من SCIENTIFIC INDIA مشاهدة الكل
Nano priming Seeds: A Small Innovation Sparkling Big Advances in Germination
Scientific India

Nano priming Seeds: A Small Innovation Sparkling Big Advances in Germination

Nanopriming is an emerging agricultural technique where the seeds are treated with nanoparticles to improve their germination, growth, and overall performance.

time-read
4 mins  |
September - October 2024
Father-Daughter Team Decodes Mars' Alien Signal
Scientific India

Father-Daughter Team Decodes Mars' Alien Signal

There is no definitive answer to whether aliens exist, but there is a lot of work being done to find out:

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2024
Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology
Scientific India

Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology

We are in a transition towards a digital world, where everything will be dealt with in digital format.

time-read
4 mins  |
July-August 2024
Massive Underground Water Reservoir Found on Mars
Scientific India

Massive Underground Water Reservoir Found on Mars

Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.

time-read
1 min  |
July-August 2024
Tofu: The Budget-Friendly Superfood for Vegetarians
Scientific India

Tofu: The Budget-Friendly Superfood for Vegetarians

Tofu is a plant-based protein-rich food item that can be easily prepared at the household level with limited resources.

time-read
3 mins  |
July-August 2024
Exploring the Marvels of Carbon Quantum Dots: A Leap into the Future of Nanotechnology
Scientific India

Exploring the Marvels of Carbon Quantum Dots: A Leap into the Future of Nanotechnology

In the ever-changing world of nanotechnology, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as super tiny but incredibly powerful entities that have massive potential in various fields.

time-read
2 mins  |
July-August 2024
Sniffing Cancer- Honeybee, a potential cancer detector?
Scientific India

Sniffing Cancer- Honeybee, a potential cancer detector?

Imagine harnessing the super-sense of a honeybee to sniff out lung cancer.

time-read
3 mins  |
July-August 2024
Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s
Scientific India

Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s

If it's ever felt like everything in your body is breaking down at once, that might not be your imagination.

time-read
3 mins  |
July-August 2024
How does excess sugar affect the developing brain throughout childhood and adolescence
Scientific India

How does excess sugar affect the developing brain throughout childhood and adolescence

Parents often stress about their kids' sugar intake, but it can be hard to know how much is too much or what to do about it.

time-read
3 mins  |
July-August 2024
Scientists Have Grown Diamonds in Just 150 Minutes
Scientific India

Scientists Have Grown Diamonds in Just 150 Minutes

Natural diamonds take billions of years to form in the extreme pressures and temperatures deep underground. Synthetic forms can be produced far quicker, but they typically still require some intense squishing for up to several weeks.

time-read
1 min  |
March-April 2024