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1 June 2013 Evaluation of Methods for Collecting Blood-Engorged Mosquitoes from Habitats Within a Wildlife Refuge
Kristina M. Friesen, Gregory D. Johnson
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Abstract

Mortality of American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) chicks attributed to West Nile virus (WNV) prompted field studies on the bionomics of mosquitoes on a wildlife refuge in northern Montana. One component of these studies was to identify blood meal sources for Culex tarsalis, the primary vector of WNV in the region, and the potential bridge vectors Aedes vexans and Culiseta inornata. To accomplish this, 3 methods were evaluated to collect bloodfed mosquitoes: a gasoline powered aspirator, CO2-baited light traps, and fiber pots in shelterbelts consisting of stands of deciduous trees and shrubs and marshes along the lake edge. Fiber pots were also deployed in open fields of prairie grasses. Overall, fiber pots were the most efficient method for collecting engorged Cx. tarsalis and Cs. inornata, largely due to shorter sampling and processing times. Aedes vexans was not collected in fiber pots but was more abundant in aspiration samples than the other 2 species. The optimal location for collecting Cx. tarsalis was dependent on trapping method. Aspirations and fiber pot placements collected more Cx. tarsalis in shelterbelts, while CO2-baited light traps collected more Cx. tarsalis in the marsh habitat. Sixteen avian and 4 mammalian hosts were identified from bloodfed Cx. tarsalis with 46 blood meals derived from birds and 49 from mammals. Aedes vexans and Cs. inornata fed predominantly on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (Bos taurus), respectively. Humans were identified as hosts in 33% of engorged Cx. tarsalis, 4% of engorged Ae. vexans, and 18% of engorged Cs. inornata.

2013 by The American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.
Kristina M. Friesen and Gregory D. Johnson "Evaluation of Methods for Collecting Blood-Engorged Mosquitoes from Habitats Within a Wildlife Refuge," Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 29(2), 102-107, (1 June 2013). https://doi.org/10.2987/12-6323R.1
Published: 1 June 2013
JOURNAL ARTICLE
6 PAGES

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KEYWORDS
American white pelican
Blood meal identification
light trap
Resting fiber pots, aspirator
West Nile virus
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