Invasive plants may boost mosquito numbers in lower-income neighbourhoods
Research indicates that low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore and Washington, DC, have higher mosquito populations due to the prevalence of invasive, nonnative plants. These plants provide a nutrient-rich environment for larvae, which helps mosquitoes grow faster and potentially carry diseases more effectively.
Why it matters
The study links urban environmental inequality and public health, showing how historical underinvestment affects modern disease transmission risks.
Low-income urban neighbourhoods in Baltimore and Washington, DC, have higher mosquito numbers partly because of the types of trees growing on their streets and in empty lots, according to new research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.The study, co-authored by scientists at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and led by Dr Sarah Rothman, a former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, shows that rotting leaves from invasive, nonnative plants commonly found in poorer areas give mosquito larvae a rich food source. This diet helps the young insects survive longer, grow up faster and, in some cases, develop larger bodies as adults, making them better at spreading dangerous viruses.Wealth gap in tree coverFor years, disease experts noticed a confusing pattern in Baltimore.
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