The Case for Greater Focus on Mosquitoes and Other Arthropod Vectors in Epidemiology
The textbook approach to managing disease outbreaks focuses on pathogen, host, and environment but leaves out insect or arthropod vectors. For afflictions such as Zika, malaria, and Lyme, a report in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America proposes a new version of the classic 'epidemiologic triad' that better reflects the complexities of managing vector-borne diseases.
Funny Honey at the Zoo Reveals Bees’ Foraging on Sugar Baits
In the course of a study on mosquito movement, researchers discovered that local colonies of honey bees had foraged on a nontoxic sugar bait meant for the mosquitoes. The bait was dyed red to track mosquitoes that fed on it, but the dye also showed up in much of the bees' honey.
Water Mites Discovered Parasitizing Two Mosquito Species in Pennsylvania
A survey of mosquitoes in Pennsylvania discovered 12 mosquitoes parasitized by larval mites. Water mites can reduce the survival and reproductive success of mosquitoes, and entomologists are investigating such parasitism to evaluate its potential as a method for biological control efforts.
Cannibalism in Mosquito Larvae Confounds Egg Counts
New research shows that late-stage Anopheles gambiae larvae will eat eggs and first-instar larvae of their own species, calling into question the common view that females of the mosquito species avoid laying eggs in water where other larvae are already present.
Mosquito Sculpture Delivers Entomology, STEAM Education at Maryland Middle School
Meet "Wiley" the mosquito, a sculpture at Bates Middle School in Annapolis, Maryland, part of a school-wide integrated education program supported by the Entomological Foundation.
Flower Pots in Southwestern U.S. a Common Breeding Site for Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
The Aedes aegypti mosquito typically prefers humid climates, but it has gained a foothold in the arid southwestern U.S. by using manmade containers for breeding sites—in particular, flower pots and the saucers underneath them.
The Collapsible Passive Trap: Mosquito Monitoring in a Lightweight Package
Evaluation of the collapsible passive trap for mosquitoes shows performs as well as other commonly used traps but in a lighter, easier-to-carry design, making it an attractive option for mosquito monitoring in remote areas.
Fertilizer Runoff is a Boon to Mosquito Growth
A new study shows that fertilizer present in water where mosquitoes breed can boost growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi, which mosquito larvae feed on, resulting in accelerated larval development and greater survival rates to adulthood.
Beware the “Dark Side” of Light Traps
Light traps are useful collecting devices to sample large numbers and species of insects, but they also may mask infestations of some insect-borne illnesses and even expose humans to disease vectors.
The Role of School Nurses in Integrated Pest Management for Public Health
School nurses deal directly with the effects of lice, ticks, and mosquitoes on students and can be an important addition to the IPM team.
Another Step Forward in Genetic Engineering of Mosquitoes
The disruption of mosquitoes' cuticle, wing, and eye development is “proof of concept" for a new advance in the genetic engineering method known as CRISPR/Cas9.
Vector Control Experts Sought for Onsite Aid in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Caribbean Emergency Vector Response Network, a grassroots effort to coordinate aid after the hurricanes, issued a call for volunteers to deploy to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide vector control assistance.
Citizen Scientists Collect 29,000 Mosquitoes in Germany and Help Detect Spreading Populations of Invasive Species
By Edward Ricciuti Armchair scientists nimble enough to catch insect lightning in a jar have helped the professionals map distribution of invasive mosquitoes in Germany—and they even detected three previously […]
Three-Quarters of U.S. Has Suitable Climate for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes
Three-quarters of counties in the contiguous United States present suitable environmental conditions for at least part of the year for either Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to survive if introduced, according to researchers […]
Faster ID of Mosquito Species Possible via CDC Improvements to DNA Testing Methods
A crucial step in management of mosquito-borne diseases is knowing exactly what kind of mosquitoes are present in any given locale. Are they garden-variety species that aren’t carriers of human […]
Building a Better Light Trap: Study Finds Specific Light Waves Attract Anopheline Mosquitoes
By Andrew Porterfield For more than 50 years, the light trap—an incandescent light source attached to an insect collector—has been the standard for sampling potentially disease-carrying mosquitos. The U.S. Centers […]