Neighborhoods with lower socio-economic status may see more mosquitoes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New research shows there may be a link between where you live in Charlotte and the number of mosquitoes in your neighborhood.

A UNC Charlotte study found more biting mosquitoes in places that have lower socio-economic status.

“There's some big mosquitoes around here. Because they feel like they have teeth they're tiger mosquitoes is what we call them,” said northwest Charlotte resident Danny Scott.

During doctoral researcher Ari Whiteman’s study at UNC Charlotte, a team placed mosquito traps in about 100 neighborhoods with varying socio-economic levels throughout Mecklenburg County.

"We found a higher abundance of biting mosquitoes in a place that has lower socio-economic status,” said Whiteman.

Based on the team’s findings, certain areas of Charlotte were highlighted on a map in red. The red zones are areas expected to have a higher population of mosquitoes.

Some neighborhoods in the red zone include Washington Heights, Eastway, the West Boulevard corridor and the north side of Independence.

Whiteman said the results could point to higher amounts of abandoned land containing more standing water, and he wants public health officials to step in and help.

Danny Scott lives in one of the red zones in northwest Charlotte and he said mosquitoes are a nuisance, but not out of control in the area.

Channel 9 reached out to Mecklenburg County officials to find out their thoughts on this new mosquito study, but the expert who could answer our questions was out for the holiday week.

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