100 More Species #19: Inland Floodwater Mosquito

Inland floodwater mosquito, Aedes vexans

Aedes vexans is the most common mosquito in Europe and one of the most common in North America. The eggs are laid in moist soil, where they are dormant until flooding occurs. The larvae hatch quickly, and develop into adults as the water disappears. Larvae can survive in "humid soil," and the size of adults depends on how long they had to develop in water before it evaporated.* In our area Aedes vexans is a vector of eastern equine encephalitis and dog heartworm.

This individual was in my bathroom one morning. I sent it down to Davy Jones Locker.



*http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16859100

3:00 snapshot #998

A week ago Saturday (MAN I'm behind) our friends Ben and Carrie came over to meet the Puppy and hang out. Earlier that day we painted the shed.


They brought "hot dogs" made from a large diameter sausage cut into patties. They cook up nicely on the grill, and save you from buying two kinds of buns. (Apparently it's essentially thick-cut bologna, and was developed because traditional hot dogs are a choking hazard for children.)

Rip off the bandaid, get off the pot

Okay, I've found just about every possible way to procrastinate, now my life is taking over for me. I can't record the podcast tonight (friend coming over), tomorrow through Saturday (events happening kind of constantly), and I want to be fresh and loquacious for this thing (he means caffeinated). If I say it here then I can't go back on it without public shame, which is so much more effective a motivator than private shame.

This Sunday at 10 a.m., after having a shot of espresso, I will record episode 1 of the Species of Least Concern podcast. I will upload it as soon as technologically possible and make it available either Sunday or Monday, depending on technology and my ineptitude with it. Then from now on that will be my regular time to record the podcast (may have to move it earlier if I start doing Urban Nature Walks again) every week.

I may fail or I may succeed, but I won't have the benefit of either experience if I don't try.