Short Wave Podcast Summary: "Does It Feel Like Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse?"
Introduction
In the June 24, 2025 episode of NPR’s Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber delve into a pressing local concern: the resurgence of mosquitoes in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Triggered by a listener's personal experience, the episode explores the multifaceted reasons behind the increase in mosquito populations and offers expert insights on managing this growing nuisance.
Listener's Concern: Abby Krish Star’s Mosquito Battle
The episode begins with Abby Krish Star’s account of her struggle with mosquitoes. Growing up in the suburbs of Boston, Abby experienced severe mosquito problems every summer, leading her to move closer to the city where she enjoyed a mosquito-free environment for a time. However, in the past five years, mosquitoes have made a strong comeback in her backyard, disrupting her outdoor activities.
"Each year in recent years has become harder and harder. Like last year, we couldn't even be out there."
— Abby Krish Star [00:59]
Abby’s frustration sets the stage for the episode’s exploration of why this resurgence is occurring.
Expert Insights: The Role of Climate Change
Producer Hannah Chin introduces the topic by highlighting the public health implications of increased mosquito populations. She brings in Dr. Doug Bidlak, an entomologist from the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project, who confirms the rise in mosquito numbers.
"Our numbers have continued to go up since I've been here overall, and I'm talking about total mosquito populations have been going up."
— Dr. Doug Bidlak [04:32]
Dr. Bidlak attributes this increase to shifts in local weather patterns linked to climate change, such as warmer temperatures and more unpredictable rainfall. These conditions favor certain mosquito species over others, leading to an overall rise in populations.
Climate Change and Mosquito Proliferation
Hannah Chin explains that climate change has a complex impact on mosquitoes, affecting their breeding cycles, geographical distribution, and disease transmission capabilities.
"If you have an overall average trend of certain places getting closer to the ideal conditions where, on average, a mosquito would thrive, locations where we already have the mosquito present, if those conditions expand temporally, you would have them there for a longer period of time."
— Rebecca De Jesus Crespo, Ecologist at LSU [06:25]
The discussion highlights that while specific mosquito populations may vary, the general trend across the United States points toward longer mosquito seasons and potentially larger populations due to extended breeding periods.
Mosquito Biology and Disease Transmission
Julian Hillier, an entomologist from Vanderbilt University, provides an in-depth look at mosquito behavior and their role in disease transmission. He emphasizes that mosquitoes bite not out of malice but as a means to acquire nutrients necessary for egg production.
"The goal of drinking blood, which, by the way, only females do, is to get the nutrients they need to make eggs so that they can pass on the genetic material to the next generation."
— Julian Hillier [07:21]
Hillier also discusses how warmer temperatures accelerate mosquitoes' metabolism, leading to faster life cycles but shorter lifespans. This accelerated life cycle can increase the rate at which mosquitoes transmit pathogens.
"So in a mosquito, when it's warmer, the metabolism is much higher. Everything's growing faster when it's hotter."
— Julian Hillier [08:27]
Implications for Public Health
The episode underscores the public health risks associated with increased mosquito populations. Dr. Bidlak and other experts explain how mosquitoes serve as vectors for diseases such as West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis, with climate change potentially altering the dynamics of disease spread.
"When you have warmer temperatures, mosquitoes generally have shorter lifespans."
— Julian Hillier [08:37]
This combination of higher mosquito activity and changing pathogen dynamics poses significant challenges for public health officials and communities alike.
Prevention and Management Strategies
Emily Kwong and Hannah Chin transition the discussion to practical measures listeners can take to mitigate mosquito problems. Dr. Bidlak advises checking for and eliminating standing water in backyards, as mosquito larvae thrive in such environments.
"Really anything that collects even a little tiny bit of water. Because mosquitoes tend to stay pretty localized after hatching."
— Dr. Doug Bidlak [11:36]
Public health director Vivian Tseng recommends monitoring local mosquito surveillance dashboards to stay informed about risk levels and adjust outdoor activities accordingly.
For personal protection, experts suggest:
- Wearing Protective Clothing: Long sleeves and pants can reduce skin exposure.
- Using Repellents: EPA-registered DEET repellents are deemed most effective, though alternatives are available for those sensitive to DEET.
- Applying Permethrin Spray: Treating clothing with permethrin can provide additional protection, especially during activities like camping.
"If folks are working or playing outside or maybe planning a camping trip, basically if they have to be outside, they can try to cover up with long sleeve and pants and get a good repellent."
— Vivian Tseng [13:02]
Conclusion
The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued scientific research and surveillance to understand and combat the evolving challenges posed by mosquito populations. Hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber reinforce the need for community action and awareness in managing mosquito-related issues.
"It's a complicated question that is changing a lot, which is why doing science and continued observation and surveillance of these mosquitoes is really important."
— Hannah Chin [09:31]
Final Thoughts
"Does It Feel Like Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse?" offers a comprehensive examination of the factors contributing to rising mosquito populations in Massachusetts, with broader implications for other regions. By intertwining personal anecdotes with expert analyses, the episode provides listeners with both understanding and actionable strategies to address this growing environmental and public health concern.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- Abby Krish Star [00:59]: "And then I don't know when it was, maybe about five years ago, I started to notice that suddenly there were mosquitoes again just being in our backyard."
- Dr. Doug Bidlak [04:32]: "Our numbers have continued to go up since I've been here overall, and I'm talking about total mosquito populations have been going up."
- Rebecca De Jesus Crespo [06:25]: "If you have an overall average trend of certain places getting closer to the ideal conditions where, on average, a mosquito would thrive..."
- Julian Hillier [07:21]: "The goal of drinking blood... is to get the nutrients they need to make eggs..."
- Julian Hillier [08:37]: "When you have warmer temperatures, mosquitoes generally have shorter lifespans."
- Dr. Doug Bidlak [11:36]: "Because mosquitoes tend to stay pretty localized after hatching."
- Vivian Tseng [13:02]: "They can try to cover up with long sleeve and pants and get a good repellent."
- Hannah Chin [09:31]: "Doing science and continued observation and surveillance of these mosquitoes is really important."
This summary is based on the June 24, 2025 episode of NPR’s Short Wave, titled "Does It Feel Like Mosquitoes Are Getting Worse?" For more information and to support the show, visit plus.npr.org/shortwave.