Posted by Vector and Vector-borne Disease Committee
December 7, 2022
A McMahon, CMB Franca, MC Wimberly [email: mcwimberly@ou.edu]. Journal of Medical Entomology 59: 1936–1946, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac145.
Abstract [condensed]
We investigated how land cover and climate influenced abundances of Ae. albopictus (Skuse) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say) in Norman, Oklahoma. From June–October 2019 and May–October 2020 we sampled mosquitoes along an urban-rural gradient using CO2 baited BG Sentinel traps. We compared statistical models of abundance based on microclimate, satellite, weather station, and land cover data. Mosquitoes were more abundant on trap days with higher temperature and relative humidity. Rainfall 2 wk prior to the trap day negatively affected mosquito abundances. Impervious surface cover was positively associated with Cx. quinquefasciatus and tree cover was negatively associated with Ae. albopictus. Among the data sources, models based on satellite variables and land cover data had the best fits.
Note: Methods such as these may be useful for planning surveillance sampling and perhaps even control operations in urban areas.