Learn how to identify Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, why they are important disease vectors, and how their larval habitats and feeding preferences influence where they are found.
While most vector control professionals working in a government setting are busy during the summer months keeping down their vector populations, many Gulf South VECTOR activities shift from training and needs assessments to networking and writing. That is, except for the many New World Screwworm
Meet Anika Coleman, a Virginia Tech Graphic Design senior bringing creativity, leadership, and social media strategy to Gulf South VECTOR. As a Research & Design Assistant, Anika is gaining real-world experience in public health communication while helping strengthen the project’s visual presence and exploring her
Lyme disease is one of the most common and impactful tickborne illnesses in the United States. Even so, there is a low number of reported Lyme disease cases in the Gulf South region (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025a). Cases are concentrated in
Alpha-gal syndrome, or the red meat allergy, is gaining attention in popular media but it still may not be well understood. This is a tick-transmitted allergy to mammalian products, specifically to the carbohydrate galactose-𝛼-1,3-galactose (𝛼-gal). The sugar 𝛼-gal is not in humans but is in
Olivia Magaletta successfully completed her master’s degree in Entomology at the University of Florida – Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, a center part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Jacquez Daniels received his B.S. in Entomology and recently completed his M.S. in Entomology at Florida A&M University (FAMU), where he now serves as a research assistant.
Logan Gary is completing his Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Loyola University. Upon graduation, he plans to attend LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Logan has recently begun contributing to the Gulf South VECTOR Animal Welfare Committee.
Welcoming new Gulf South VECTOR collaborator Citrus County Mosquito Control District, this spotlight highlights how one of Florida’s long-standing mosquito control programs uses integrated mosquito management, disease surveillance, aerial larviciding, insecticide resistance testing, public outreach, and innovative biological control strategies to protect public health and
Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Bigot, 1861) is a mosquito species native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the western Mediterranean. Learn what to do if you spot this species in the Gulf South region.