When Bugs Bite!

66 Walker Street,Lenox MA 01240

06 May, 2023

Description

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks are on the rise across temperate regions, among them Lyme disease, Babesia, and arboviral encephalitis. Changes in climate, animal dispersal, and better detection are all to blame. Bugs like mosquitoes and ticks thrive on vertebrate blood. Since they can feed on multiple animals during their lifetime – each bite is an opportunity for pathogens to spread. Tick and mosquito disease vectors are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and vegetation. Determining how changes in climate and land cover will affect vectors, pathogens, and animal hosts is an important research challenge. This talk will explore how changing climate and environmental conditions affect tick and mosquito populations, what this means for disease risk, and what we can do to reduce our exposure and prevent illness. *This event will not be screening bites or discussing Lyme disease treatments. Shannon LaDeau, Ph.D. is a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute. She will discuss how climate change influences tick populations and Lyme disease risk throughout the region. Learn ways to safeguard yourself while enjoying the outdoors. Light lunch fare provided.