Gallinippers! Monster Mosquitoes Poised to Strike Florida

One of the most ferocious insects you've ever heard of — it's the size of a quarter and its painful bite has been compared to being knifed — is set to invade Florida this summer.

The Sunshine State, already home to man-eating sinkholes, invading Burmese pythons, swarming sharks, tropical storms and other disasters, can expect to see an explosion of shaggy-haired gallinippers (Psorophora ciliata), a type of giant mosquito, according to entomologist Phil Kaufman of the University of Florida.

Gallinipper eggs hatch after a rainstorm or flood, and the state saw a big jump in the numbers of gallinippers last summer after Tropical Storm Debby dumped its load on Florida. Eggs laid last year could produce a bumper crop of the blood-sucking bugs this summer if Florida sees a soggy rainy season.

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As insects go, gallinippers are particularly formidable. Their eggs lie dormant for years, awaiting the floodwaters that will enable them to hatch. Even in their larval stage, gallinippers are so tough they'll eat tadpoles and other small aquatic prey.

And as adults, the voracious pests feed day and night (unlike everyday mosquitoes, which generally feed only at dawn and dusk). Their bodies are strong enough to bite through clothing, and they're known to go after pets, wild animals and even fish, MyFoxOrlando.com reports.


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Genesia said:

I omitted the part where it says that these bad boys are TWENTY TIMES BIGGER than normal mosquitoes.

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

I omitted the part where it says that these bad boys are TWENTY TIMES BIGGER than normal mosquitoes.

no trip to Fl this summer. Another super bug?

Damn, what did Florida do to become the toilet bowl of our fine country? I guess a can of OFF ain't gon work on deez gallynippas - misspellings done on purpose FTR - , I will proceed with caution when visiting The Hurricane State.

So glad I left there years ago...and I ain't goin' back.

I had my experiences with these guys as a kid in Florida. They travel in groups as large in number as normal mosquitos.

aardvark15 said:

I had my experiences with these guys as a kid in Florida. They travel in groups as large in number as normal mosquitos.

Damn...ever got bit by one? Is the bite as painful as they say???

PurpleJedi said:

aardvark15 said:

PurpleJedi said:

Damn...ever got bit by one? Is the bite as painful as they say???

Not that bad. More like being shoved with 2 or 3 hypodermic needles at once.

SHUT.UP!!!

Are you serious??

tinaz said:

aardvark15 said:

tinaz said:

SHUT.UP!!!

Are you serious??

It's better than a knife

aardvark15 said:

PurpleJedi said:

Damn...ever got bit by one? Is the bite as painful as they say???

Not that bad. More like being shoved with 2 or 3 hypodermic needles at once.