Bt Research 2025, Vol.16, No.6, 251-258 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/bt 253 "dangerous". The transmission efficiency and activity patterns of different species vary greatly. This is why vector control must be carried out on a case-by-case and targeted basis, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach (Shaw and Catteruccia, 2018; Nebbak et al., 2022; Ferraguti, 2024). 3.2 Blackflies, biting midges, and fleas in parasitic disease transmission (e.g., Onchocerciasis, Plague) Mosquitoes are indeed the focus, but don't overlook the "presence" of other blood-sucking insects. Black flies are no ordinary nuisance in some parts of Africa. They are the vectors of the main culprit causing river blindness - the Trichosoma. Although midges are small in size, they carry many diseases, especially among domestic animals, and the types of pathogens they cause are also very complex. Fleas need no introduction. The history of the plague is well-known to all, and it is through this that Yersinia spreads. The "disease areas" each of these insects is responsible for do not completely overlap, but once there is a crossover or outbreak, the consequences are equally serious (Figure 1). Therefore, prevention and control measures should not only focus on mosquitoes but also take into account these non-mosquito vectors; otherwise, it is easy to leave blind spots in prevention and control (Morchon et al., 2023; Xu et al., 2025). Figure 1 The relationship network diagrams in terms of tsetseflies. A-co-occurrence network of keywords; B-co-authorship networkof countries; C-co-authorship network of institutions; D-co-authorship network of authors (Adopted from Xu et al., 2025) 3.3 Ticks and bacterial pathogens (e.g., lyme disease) Ticks may not be as noticeable as mosquitoes, but the trouble they cause is no less. Especially Lyme disease has become a common problem in many temperate countries. This disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, and the species that transmit it are several ticks of the genus Ixodes (Zhong, 2025). Unlike mosquitoes, ticks do not rush to fly around. Instead, they "wait by the stump for a rabbit", and once they climb onto the host, they can stay there for several days. They also change hosts many times throughout their lives, crawling almost everywhere, from small mammals to humans. What is more complicated is that they do not only spread one pathogen, but may also carry a mixed source of infection such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa simultaneously. Therefore, relying solely on insecticides is often insufficient. It is necessary to start from the "periphery" such as ecological environment management and wildlife monitoring, and adopt comprehensive measures to truly control tick-borne diseases (Perilla-Henao and Casteel, 2016).
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