Mosquito Populations Linked Across Further Distances Than the Viruses They Carry
In an analysis of mosquito sampling across 20 years in Connecticut, mosquito populations were often correlated at sites 10 kilometers apart and sometimes as far as 40 kilometers apart. But the same data showed the presence of mosquito-borne viruses rarely correlated across distances more than 5 kilometers, complicating potential approaches to managing mosquitoes and the risk of vector-borne disease.
Honey Bee Virus Found in Mosquitoes
While analyzing genetic signatures of microbes found in mosquitoes, researchers in Canada were surprised to find black queen cell virus, a common scourge of honey bees. The mosquitoes likely acquired it while foraging for nectar at the same plants as bees, but it's unclear if mosquitoes have any role in spreading it among bees.
Another Non-Native Mosquito Species Adds to Growing List in Florida
Mosquito researchers in Florida report the presence in the state of Culex lactator, a species previously known from Central and South America. The arrival adds to the growing list of non-native mosquito species finding their way into Florida—a worrying trend for public-health entomologists.
Plant Pollen May Be Important Food Source for Some Mosquitoes in U.S.
Larvae of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) fared well in a new study when fed a diet of corn or pine pollen. The findings suggest corn pollen could help the species— key vector of West Nile virus in the U.S.—thrive in habitats near agricultural areas.