A Symphony of Skeeters

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The limousine pulls up to the opera house...




The patrons step out wearing their summer fashion...




 




The red carpet is laid out, welcoming the guests...



And the symphony begins…

Hmm Hmm Buzzzz Bzzzzz Bzzzz….Slap Splat, Clap Smash…. Hmm Hmm Buzzzz Bzzzzz Bzzzz….Slap Splat, Clap Smash





While conducting research in the Everglades you will inevitably come in contact with throngs of mosquitoes, especially during the dog days of summer in the mangroves along Shark River and Taylor River. 




So let me back up a bit. In addition to the satellite images I use for my research (see previous post), I also collect water samples from the groundwater, surface water and pore water in the coastal mangrove ecotone. These samples serve as ground-truthed data, or in other words, a way to calibrate and validate the results from the satellite images (more to come). This requires going out in the Everglades every 2-3 months to collect samples, and that includes going during the height of the summer heat, humidity, and of course, bugs.


There are 43 different species of mosquitoes in the Everglades, Aedes taeniorhynchus (salt marsh mosquito), being the most abundant.  It can be a little uncormfortable working out in the mangroves with literally, thousands of bugs trying to suck your blood. However, it is a great test of your physical and mental ability.  And like the saying goes, "If you love your job, you never work a day in your life".

I don’t want to discourage anyone from the summer time Everglades, because the sights can be breathtaking.  But before you go, know your enemy, dress accordingly, and be prepared for to listen to the Symphony of Skeeters...
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...


Location: Everglades National Park, 40001 State Highway 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, USA

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