National Mosquito Control Awareness Week – June 20-26, 2025

History of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

Mosquitoes may seem small and irrelevant, but they have caused the deaths of thousands in the past few decades. It is important to understand their habitat, the diseases they bring, and how humans can protect themselves. Though mosquitoes are found everywhere now, did you know they didn’t always exist anywhere outside South Africa? At least this is what scientists believe! From South Africa, mosquitoes spread on to the rest of the world and evolved according to the climate of each region. The oldest mosquito fossil, according to the University of Alaska, is believed to be from 79 million years ago. There are currently about 3,000 known species. Out of these, only 176 species are found in the United States. At least 84 of these species are found in Texas alone. Scientists have also revealed that the ancient mosquitoes were about three times as large as today’s mosquitoes. The name, too, evolved over time. For instance, the Spanish called the mosquitoes ‘musketas,’ and the native Hispanic Americans called them ‘zancudos.’

From merely being blood-sucking insects, mosquitoes became feared over the years, owing to the many painful diseases caused by their bites. In fact, they can also transmit several diseases and parasites to dogs and horses, including dog heartworms, eastern equine encephalitis, and West Nile virus. The diseases they can infect humans with include malaria, dengue virus, Zika, and West Nile virus. Seeing the spread of disease, many measures were taken to eliminate mosquitoes. A national organization of mosquito control workers under the name National Mosquito Extermination Society was also formed in the U.S.