While there are plenty of dangerous and scary animals on our planet, not many of them are found in Maine, but the deadliest one can be!

We recognize that we’re pretty lucky up here in the Pine Tree State — we don’t have the scary spiders or venomous snakes that other parts of the country have to deal with. And to that, we’re counting our blessings — however, we do still have this animal to look out for.

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Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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So, with that in mind, which creature on Earth is not only the deadliest, but is also expected to thrive in Maine this summer?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls mosquitoes the ‘world’s deadliest animal,’ and honestly, it’s a well-earned title. That’s because vector-borne diseases—including those spread by mosquitoes—are responsible for more than 700,000 deaths around the world each year.

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Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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Mosquito bites can transmit at least six potentially deadly diseases, including Malaria, West Nile Virus, Zika, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, and Dengue.

Dengue alone, according to Pfizer, is a viral infection found in over 100 countries and is linked to around 390 million infections each year. While mosquito-borne illnesses continue to seriously impact global health, folks are hopeful that ongoing advancements in treatments and technology could finally take a bite out of their effects.

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Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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Mosquitoes thrive in warm, humid environments with plenty of standing water—perfect breeding grounds for their larvae.

This summer, Maine is expected to see wetter conditions and warmer-than-average temperatures, which, according to Maine.gov, means ideal circumstances for mosquito populations to explode. With nearly 40 mosquito species in the state—and about half of them known to bite humans—it’s no surprise that Mainers are already bracing for an itchy, annoying summer outdoors.

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Credit: Canva / Getty Stock
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And there you have it. Thanks to favorable conditions across the state, mosquitoes — the deadliest creature on Earth — are expected to thrive in Maine this summer.

What are your thoughts on mosquitoes in Maine? We know they’re always bad, but this year, they might be even tougher. We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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