Unexpected Challenge in Southern GA - Mosquitoes!
Xiaolin Wang
Research @ Aria Earth
Hello Aria Earth Community! 🌎
Xiaolin here! As our Georgia project kicks off, let’s dive into an unexpected challenge we faced at our planting site. As you may know, Hurricane Helene recently hit Florida and southern Georgia hard, leaving behind toppled trees, snapped power lines and a big mess. Vedant and I witnessed firsthand the damage a hurricane can bring.
Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
Two weeks after Helene swept through, we visited our planting site. Thankfully the power had been restored, but the road to full recovery was still long. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the Hurricane.
Flooded Lands and New Challenges
Our Georgia planting site was completely flooded, which presented a new set of challenges and delayed our planting operations. On October 13th, 2024, during a preparatory visit, we encountered an unexpected issue: mosquitoes. The floodwaters had created the perfect breeding ground for floodwater mosquitoes, and their eggs hatched into large populations.
Despite using heavy bug sprays, we found ourselves covered in countless bug bites by the time we left. Check out the photo below, showcasing three to four mosquitoes attempting to bite me through my pants. These mosquitoes are particularly large and equipped with long proboscisesThis experience made us deeply appreciate the role of natural predators like dragonflies in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. While we appreciate all of mother nature’s little miracles, we would hope that the gift of mosquitoes would stay far far away from us.Â
Looking Forward
While the current situation is challenging, we’re committed to restoring and nurturing a thriving ecosystem at our Georgia site. With time and effort, we aim to create an environment where natural predators can flourish and help manage pest populations naturally.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey towards creating resilient and self-sustaining ecosystems in southern Georgia. Together, we’ll overcome these challenges and make a positive impact on our environment!
P.S. Feel free to contact us at hi@ariaearth.org with any questions you have or comments & we will get back to you as soon as we can!
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