Different responses of two floodwater mosquito species, Aedes vexans and Ochlerotatus sticticus (Diptera: Culicidae), to larval habitat drying

AbstractSampling a cosmopolitan mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) species throughout its range is logistically challenging and extremely resource intensive. Mosquito control programmes and regional networks operate at the local level and often conduct sampling activities across much of North America. A method for large-scale sampling of two mosquito species using crowdsourcing to network with these local and regional programmes is described. A total of 961 mosquito vector and control districts, health departments, and individual collectors across the United States of America and Canada were contacted in 2011 and 2012 of which 9% positively responded by sending mosquitoes. In total, 1101 unique population samples of Aedes vexans (Meigen) and Culex tarsalis Coquillett were collected throughout their range in these two countries. Aedes vexans outgroup samples were also submitted from Europe and Asia. This is the largest crowd-sourced collection of samples to date.

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Evaluation of species composition and seasonal dynamics of mosquito larvae in the Košice Basin during 2010 and 2011

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-013-0150-1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Eva Bocková ◽

Alica Kočišová ◽

Helena Hlavatá

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Species Composition ◽

Seasonal Dynamics ◽

Culex Pipiens ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Mosquito Larvae ◽

Aedes Vexans ◽

Anopheles Maculipennis

AbstractIn six sites in the Košice Basin we collected 17,520 larvae of 15 mosquito species during the seasons (April–August) of 2010 and 2011. They were: Aedes vexans (Meigen, 1830), Ae. cinereus (Meigen, 1818) [or Ae. rossicus (Dolbeskin, Gorickaja & Mitrofanova, 1930], Ochlerotatus geniculatus (Olivier, 1791), Oc. refiki (Medschid, 1928), Oc. rusticus (Rossi, 1790), Oc. sticticus (Meigen, 1838), Oc. punctor (Kirby, 1837), Oc. cataphylla (Dyar, 1916), Oc. cantans (Meigen, 1818)[or Oc. annulipes (Meigen, 1830)], Oc. communis (De Geer, 1776), Oc. flavescens (Müller, 1764), Oc. leucomelas (Meigen, 1804), Culiseta annulata (Schrank, 1776), Culex pipiens (L., 1758) [or Cx. torrentium (Martini, 1925)] and Anopheles maculipennis s.l. The objective of the present research was to identify the mosquito larvae species diversity and compare their distribution and density in urban and suburban localities of the monitored territory.

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Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04999-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Boni F. Sebayang ◽

Tanya L. Russell ◽

Kyran M. Staunton ◽

Michael Townsend ◽

Christopher Paton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Latin Square ◽

Ground Level ◽

Larval Habitat ◽

Resting Behaviour ◽

Trap Height ◽

Host Blood ◽

And Control

Abstract Background The surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases is dependent upon understanding the bionomics and distribution of the vectors. Most studies of mosquito assemblages describe species abundance, richness and composition close to the ground defined often by only one sampling method. In this study, we assessed Australian mosquito species near the ground and in the sub-canopy using two traps baited with a variety of lures. Methods Mosquitoes were sampled using a 4 × 4 Latin square design at the Cattana Wetlands, Australia from February to April 2020, using passive box traps with octenol and carbon dioxide and three variations of a sticky net trap (unbaited, and baited with octenol or octenol and carbon dioxide). The traps were deployed at two different heights: ground level (≤ 1 m above the ground) and sub-canopy level (6 m above the ground). Results In total, 27 mosquito species were identified across the ground and sub-canopy levels from the different traps. The abundance of mosquitoes at the ground level was twofold greater than at the sub-canopy level. While the species richness at ground and sub-canopy levels was not significantly different, species abundance varied by the collection height. Conclusions The composition of mosquito population assemblages was correlated with the trap types and heights at which they were deployed. Coquillettidia species, which prefer feeding on birds, were mainly found in the sub-canopy whereas Anopheles farauti, Aedes vigilax and Mansonia uniformis, which have a preference for feeding on large mammals, were predominantly found near the ground. In addition to trap height, environmental factors and mosquito bionomic characteristics (e.g. larval habitat, resting behaviour and host blood preferences) may explain the vertical distribution of mosquitoes. This information is useful to better understand how vectors may acquire and transmit pathogens to hosts living at different heights. Graphical abstract

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The flight distances of floodwater mosquitoes (Aedes vexans, Ochlerotatus sticticus and Ochlerotatus caspius) in Osijek, Eastern Croatia

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-011-0073-7 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mirta Bogojević ◽

Enrih Merdić ◽

Tomislav Bogdanović

Keyword(s):

Disease Control ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Release Site ◽

Maximum Distance ◽

Dispersal Rate ◽

Aedes Vexans ◽

Dispersal Pattern ◽

Mark Release Recapture ◽

Control And Prevention

AbstractIn spring 2004, the mark-release-recapture study was conducted in the Osijek area, covering the total of 171 km2, to describe dispersal pattern of three floodwater mosquito species (Aedes vexans, Ochlerotatus sticticus and Oc. caspius). Forty CO2 baited Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traps were set at distances varying from 0.95 to 16.7 km from release site. Fifty thousand mosquitoes were released, and a total of 22 marked mosquitoes were recaptured in 12 traps, 82% of which were collected in the first six days after release. The maximum distance of recaptured mosquito (Oc. sticticus) was found at 11.68 km from the release site. During the study, the average dispersal rate per day for mosquitoes ranged from 0.96 km to 3.6 km in regard to different species.

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Larval ecology and infestation indices of two major arbovirus vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), in Brazzaville, the capital city of the Republic of the Congo

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-04374-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Theodel A. Wilson-Bahun ◽

Basile Kamgang ◽

Arsène Lenga ◽

Charles S. Wondji

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Larval Habitat ◽

Capital City ◽

Transmission Risk ◽

Distribution Analysis ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

The Republic ◽

The City

Abstract Background Invasive mosquito species, such as Aedes albopictus in Congo can affect the distribution of native species, changing the vector composition and pattern of disease transmission. Here, we comparatively establish the geographical distribution and larval habitat preference of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus and the risk of arbovirus disease outbreaks using Stegomyia indices in the city of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. Methods Human dwelling surveys of water-holding containers for immature stages of Aedes was carried out in December 2017 in Brazzaville through a random cluster sampling method. A total of 268 human dwellings distributed in 9 boroughs and 27 neighbourhoods were surveyed across the city. Results Overall, 455 potential larval habitats were surveyed. Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were collected across the city with an overall high prevalence of Ae. aegypti (53.1%) compared to Ae. albopictus (46.9%). Geographical distribution analysis showed that Ae. aegypti was more abundant (mean = 6.6 ± 1.4) in neighbourhoods located in downtown, while the abundance of Ae. albopictus was low (mean = 3.5 ± 0.6) in suburbs. Peridomestic containers, especially discarded tanks, were the most strongly colonized productive larval habitat for both mosquito species with the prevalence of 56.4% and 53.1% for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, respectively. Globally, the house index (HI), Breteau index (BI) and container index (CI) were high for Ae. aegypti (26.6%, 38.4% and 22.6%) and Ae. albopictus (33.3%, 49.6% and 26.6%) compared to the transmission risk threshold (5%, 5% and 20%) established by the WHO/PAHO. Overall, pupae-based indices (the pupae index and the pupae per person index) were not significantly different between Ae. aegypti (273.4% and 23.2%) and Ae. albopictus (228.8% and 19.5%). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest a high risk for transmission of arbovirus diseases in Brazzaville and call for an urgent need to implement vector control strategies against these vectors in the Republic of the Congo.

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Host specificity and penetration in the mosquito pathogen Coelomomyces psorophorae

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b79-327 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 57 (24) ◽

pp. 2766-2770 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Stephen L. Zebold ◽

Howard C. Whisler ◽

Joseph A. Shemanchuk ◽

Linda B. Travland

Keyword(s):

Methylene Blue ◽

Host Range ◽

Digestive Tract ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Broad Host Range ◽

Dilute Solution ◽

Aedes Vexans ◽

Culiseta Inornata ◽

Mosquito Pathogen

A variety of the mosquito pathogen, Coelomomyces psorophorae, collected at Fincastle, Alberta, has been maintained in laboratory-reared larvae of Culiseta inornata and in cultures of the copepod, Cyclops vernalis. Despite earlier speculation, the fungus appears to have a relatively broad host range as revealed by preliminary host-specificity studies. Seven of the 12 mosquito species tested became infected. One species, Aedes vexans, known to be a host for C. psorophorae was not infected, confirming experimentally that host-specific varieties of this species of fungus do exist. Staining with a dilute solution of methylene blue revealed that the fungus encysts in definite patterns on the cuticles of both host animals. Penetration occurs through the cuticle and not through the digestive tract. A correlation between attachment and susceptibility was obvious in these limited trials.

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Aedes albopictus Populations and Larval Habitat Characteristics across the Landscape: Significant Differences Exist between Urban and Rural Land Use Types

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12030196 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 196

Author(s):

Katie M. Westby ◽

Solny A. Adalsteinsson ◽

Elizabeth G. Biro ◽

Alexis J. Beckermann ◽

Kim A. Medley

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Larval Habitat ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Water Evaporation ◽

Global Changes ◽

Local Conditions ◽

Land Use Types

One of the most profound recent global changes has been the proliferation of urban metropolitan areas. A consequence of urbanization is a reduction in abundance, or diversity, of wildlife. One exception, is the proliferation of vectors of disease; recent years have seen the emergence and resurgence of diseases vectored by species closely associated with humans. Aedes albopictus, a mosquito with a near global range and broad ecological niche, has been described as an urban, suburban, or rural vector, or a forest edge species depending on local conditions. We tested the hypothesis that abundance and phenological patterns of this species vary among different land use types in a temperate city because of the variation in the biotic and abiotic conditions characteristic of those habitat types. A. albopictus populations in urban and suburban areas were an order of magnitude larger than in rural areas and were detected several weeks earlier in the season. Additionally, we found fewer overall mosquito species, higher temperatures, lower nitrogen, higher pH, and faster water evaporation in larval habitats in urban vs. rural areas. By understanding the ecological differences that facilitate a species in one habitat and not another, we can potentially exploit those differences for targeted control.

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Larval habitat diversity and Anopheles mosquito species distribution in different ecological zones in Ghana

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04701-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Isaac A. Hinne ◽

Simon K. Attah ◽

Benedicta A. Mensah ◽

Akua O. Forson ◽

Yaw A. Afrane

Keyword(s):

Lymphatic Filariasis ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Larval Density ◽

Larval Habitat ◽

Effective Control ◽

Anopheles Coluzzii ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Breeding Habitats ◽

Savannah Zone

Abstract Background Understanding the ecology of larval malaria and lymphatic filariasis mosquitoes in a changing environment is important in developing effective control tools or programmes. This study characterized the breeding habitats of Anopheles mosquitoes in rural communities in different ecological zones in Ghana during the dry and rainy seasons. Methods The spatio-temporal distribution, species composition, and abundance of larval Anopheles mosquitoes in breeding habitats were studied in five locations in three ecological zones of Ghana. These were Anyakpor (coastal savannah area), Duase (forest area), and Libga, Pagaza, and Kpalsogu (Sahel savannah area). Larvae were collected using standard dippers and were raised in the insectary for identification. Results Out of a total of 7984 mosquito larvae collected, 2152 (27.26%) were anophelines and were more abundant in the rainy season (70.82%) than in the dry season (29.18%). The anophelines comprised 2128 (98.88%) An. gambiae s.l., 16 (0.74%) An. rufipes, and 8 (0.37%) An. pharoensis. In the coastal savannah and forest zones, dug-out wells were the most productive habitat during the dry (1.59 larvae/dip and 1.47 larvae/dip) and rainy seasons (11.28 larvae/dip and 2.05 larvae/dip). Swamps and furrows were the most productive habitats in the Sahel savannah zone during the dry (0.25 larvae/dip) and rainy (2.14 larvae/dip) seasons, respectively. Anopheles coluzzii was the most abundant sibling species in all the ecological zones. Anopheles melas and An. arabiensis were encountered only in the coastal savannah and the Sahel savannah areas, respectively. Larval habitat types influenced the presence of larvae as well as larval density (p < 0.001). The land-use type affected the presence of Anopheles larvae (p = 0.001), while vegetation cover influenced larval density (p < 0.05). Conclusion The most productive habitats were dug-out wells in the coastal savannah and forest zones, and furrows from irrigated canals in the Sahel savannah zone. Anopheles coluzzii was the predominant vector species in all the ecological zones. The abundance of Anopheles breeding habitats and larvae were influenced by anthropogenic activities. Encouraging people whose activities create the larval habitats to become involved in larval source management such as habitat manipulation to stop mosquito breeding will be important for malaria and lymphatic filariasis control.

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Fauna and Larval Habitat Characteristics of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kashan County, Central Iran, 2019

Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases ◽

10.18502/jad.v15i1.6487 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tahereh Sadat Asgarian ◽

Seyed Hassan Moosa-Kazemi ◽

Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat ◽

Rouhullah Dehghani ◽

Mohammad Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadi

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Larval Habitat ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Larval Habitats ◽

Vector Borne Diseases ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

First Time

Background: Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading devastating parasites and pathogens causing some important infectious diseases. The present study was done to better understand and update the fauna of Culicidae and to find out the distribution and the type of their larval habitats in Kashan County. Methods: This study was done in four districts of Kashan County (Central, Qamasr, Niasar and Barzok). Mosquito lar-vae were collected from 23 active larval habitats using a standard 350ml capacity mosquito dipper from April to late December 2019. The collected larvae were transferred to containers containing lactophenol, and after two weeks indi-vidually mounted in Berlese's fluid on a microscope slide and identified to species by morphological characters and valid keys. Results: In this study, a total of 9789 larvae were collected from urban and rural areas in Kashan County. The identified genera were Anopheles, Culiseta and Culex. In this study larvae of An. turkhudi, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. deserticola and Cs. subochrea were collected for the first time from Kashan County. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the presence and activity of different mosquito species in Kashan County that some of them are vectors of arbovirus and other vector-borne diseases.

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