Chronic blepharitis is an ocular disease frequently encountered by ophthalmologists. Demodex mites can play a role in the pathogenesis of blepharitis along with bacterial agents, especially in treatment-resistant cases or recurrent cases after treatment. This study was performed to determine the prevalence and load of Demodex folliculorum (Simon) and Demodex brevis Akbulutova in chronic blepharitis patients and to assess the relationship between the prevalence and load of Demodex species and ocular symptoms. The study included 365 patients diagnosed with chronic blepharitis in clinical examination, and 175 controls without any chronic or ocular disease. In the study, two eyelashes were sampled from the lower and upper lids of the right and left eyes (a total of eight samples) of the participants. Eyelash samples were examined under a light microscope, and Demodex species were identified and counted. Demodex were detected in 79.2% (95% CI: 75–83%) of patients and 31.4% (95% CI: 24–38%) of controls in this study. D. folliculorum alone (mean: 4.96; min: 1; max: 17; P < 0.001) was detected in 72.3% of patients, in 0.7% D. brevis alone (mean: 1.00, P > 0.05), and in 27% both D. folliculorum and D. brevis (mean: 21.65; min: 2; max: 79; P < 0.001). In Demodex positive controls, only D. folliculorum (mean: 2.38; min: 1; max: 6) was detected while there was no D. brevis. Nevertheless, mean ocular symptom scores were significantly higher in Demodex positive patients than in Demodex negative patients (P < 0.001). Itching, foreign body sensation, and redness were the most common complaints in Demodex positive patients. As a result, Demodex mites were high in numbers in patients with chronic blepharitis in Erzincan. There was a positive correlation between Demodex mites and chronic blepharitis and ocular symptoms. It may be helpful to consider these findings in clinical assessment of blepharitis patients.

Zika virus (ZIKV), once considered an obscure pathogen, spread rapidly from 2014 to 2016 to become an internationally notifiable condition of major public health concern. The relative importance of various Culex and Aedes species mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in ZIKV transmission is a topic of debate. Quantifying host use is important in determining the vectorial capacity of a mosquito species for transmitting ZIKV in nature. In the United States, few data are available on host use of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), confirmed and suspected vectors of ZIKV, respectively. Here, we report results of bloodmeal analysis to quantify host use of confirmed (Ae. aegypti) and suspected (Ae. albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)) vectors of ZIKV in two Florida counties. At an auto salvage yard in Indian River County, Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus fed mainly on humans, taking 90.2, 90.8, and 78.6% of bloodmeals from humans, respectively. At a residential area in Martin County, Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus took 61.5 and 66.7% of bloodmeals from humans, higher than Cx. quinquefasciatus (11.1%). Patterns of host use suggest that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the most likely vectors of ZIKV in Florida and that Cx. quinquefasciatus would likely play a lesser role in ZIKV transmission in Florida. However, the relative importance of the three species in ZIKV transmission is likely location and population specific. Detailed studies quantifying other parameters of vectorial capacity, including vector competence, are needed in order to determine the actual role for each species in ZIKV transmission.

Streblidae are ectoparasites exclusive to bats and feed only on their blood. Studies on ectoparasite fauna have increased our ecological knowledge of the parasitic relationship between streblids and their bat hosts. We evaluate assemblages of phyllostomid bats and their ectoparasitic flies in three scenarios with different types of anthropogenic use: pine–oak forest, avocado orchards, and an urban park during an annual cycle in the highlands of Michoacan, Mexico. We recorded a total of 325 bats belonging to nine species in three subfamilies: Glossophaginae, Desmodontinae, and Stenodermatinae, and obtained 225 bat flies belonging to seven species. The nectivorous bat Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838, had the highest prevalence of infestation and the hematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) was the host with the highest mean parasite abundance and mean intensity. Aspidoptera delatorreiWenzel, 1966, Megistopoda proxima (Séguy, 1926), Paratrichobius longicrus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907), Trichobius brennaniWenzel, 1966, and T. parasiticusGervais, 1844, are new records for the state of Michoacan reported in this study.

Abelia chinensis R. Br. (Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae) is one of the preferred nectar host plants for Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae). However, the volatile compounds of its flowers that might be involved in directing mosquitoes' orientation to its nectaries remain unknown. In the present study, the volatile compounds released by A. chinensis florets were collected by solid phase microextraction fiber and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Based on the major component species in the volatile profile, a synthetic phytochemical blend (Blend B, composed of six compounds at their most attractive concentrations) was formulated, and its attractiveness was tested against the pentane extract of A. chinensis florets at most attractive concentration (Blend A) and a formerly developed synthetic phytochemical blend (Blend C) in the olfactometer, respectively. The results revealed that the volatile profile of A. chinensis florets was mainly composed of aromatic compounds, most of which had been reported to be attractive to other mosquito species. The synthetic Blend B was as attractive as Blend A (10^-1-fold of the crude pentane extract) in the olfactometer bioassays, but they were not as attractive as the formerly developed Blend C. The present study indicated that quantitative and qualitative differences in the constituents of phytochemical blends could significantly affect their attractiveness to Cx. pipiens pallens, and the capture efficiency of phytochemical attractants deserves further research before being applied in the field.

The standard tick collection methods of flagging and dragging are successful for collecting all stages of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae), in the northern United States. However, for unknown reasons, these methods are unsuccessful for collecting the immature stages of I. scapularis in the southern United States. Thus, a different collection strategy was employed to search for the immature stages of I. scapularis in the southern state ofTexas. Monthly sampling of three types of microhabitats potentially harboring ticks was conducted for 17 mo at the BigThicket National Preserve. Samples of leaf litter, topsoil, and subsoil were placed within Berlese funnels to determine if the immature stages of I. scapularis are residing in these layers. No ticks were found in any of the 600 substrate samples examined. Along nearby trail edges in the same area, 656 adult I. scapularis (an average of 22.6 per 1,000 m²), as well as 268 immatures of other species (i.e., Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeaus) (Acari: Ixodidae) and Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae)) were collected using flagging and dragging. These results suggest that unlike speculations from previous studies in the southern United States, the immature stages of I. scapularis may not be residing in the leaf litter and soil layers in Texas. We hypothesize that they may be residing in their host's nests and burrows. Perhaps I. scapularis in the south is exhibiting a stage specific mixed host-seeking strategy by residing in nests and burrows as immatures, contributing to the geographical difference in Lyme disease prevalence between the northern and southern United States.

Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is a simple wound debridement technique. It is a natural treatment licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is increasingly used in the United States and in Europe.This treatment is safe when the larvae originate from laboratory stocks of eggs that have been sterilized. In this study, a simple, inexpensive microbe decontamination technique is described. It yields eggs that are free of chemical residues and are easy to handle, meeting the growing demand for medicinal larvae in hospitals or medical centers. Three treatments (T1,T2,T3) involving 3, 6, and 12 min of exposure to ultraviolet (UV-C) rays, respectively, were compared. Egg sterility was evaluated by culture in thioglycollate broth, incubated at 32°C ± 2.5°C under aerobic conditions for up to 14 d. The UV-C radiation sterilization process obtained satisfactory results after 12 min exposure (treatment 3). Larval viability was 57%, pupal viability was 54%, and 54% of the adults emerged.The sex ratio was 50%, within the expected values. There were no morphological abnormalities associated to the UV-C treatment in the flies. In conclusion sterilization by UV-C rays is indicated to obtain sterile larvae destined for MDT.

Flies and beetles are the main components of the entomofauna colonizing a body after death. Following the recognition of constant and predictable colonization patterns and the knowledge about the dependence of the insect development to temperature, a new discipline, forensic entomology, has provided information useful to reconstruct criminal events. Funerary archaeoentomology has also applied the same rationale in archaeological contexts. Puparia represent a large fraction of the insect remains that can be found associated with a cadaver, especially when the body is mummified or in the advanced stages of decomposition. Puparium identification is still a problematic topic due to the lack of identification keys and, in several cases, a lack of diagnostic feature descriptions. Here, we focus the attention on some Hydrotaea Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Muscidae) puparia from forensic and archaeological contexts. Puparia of Hydrotaea capensis (Wiedemann), Hydrotaea ignava (Harris), Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann), Hydrotaea similis Meade, Hydrotaea pilipes Stein, and Hydrotaea dentipes (Fabricius) are here detailed and illustrated. Posterior spiracles, anal plate, and intersegmental spines have been considered as good diagnostic characters for the identification of these puparia.

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (Linneaus) (Acari:Ixodidae), is the most commonly reported human-biting tick in the southeastern United States and is a vector for several human and livestock pathogens. Although it is endemic to Florida, little is known about the ecological preferences and current spatial distribution within the state. Using occurrence records of adult A. americanum collected between August 2015 and September 2016, a logistic regression model was used to estimate environmental associations, as well as to predict the distribution of the tick at a one hectare resolution. Occurrence of adult lone star ticks was associated with land cover and bioclimatic variables, namely the presence of forested areas and precipitation seasonality. The estimated spatial distribution indicated that central and northern regions show greater suitability than the southern half of the state. Furthermore, areas predicted to be suitable for the species decreases from north to south with very little area deemed suitable in the far southern reaches of the state. High heterogeneity in the distribution of suitable habitat has implications for the distribution of tick-borne disease cases in the state.The subcounty resolution of the estimated distribution is an improvement over distributions currently published and may better inform the public and state or federal agencies of potential risk of exposure to A. americanum and its associated pathogens.

Mosquito trap counts are heavily influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation. However, some important geographic factors, such as land use and elevation of a particular site, are often either not recorded or simplify not observable. This is a major issue in building a predictive model for the mosquito trap counts over time across a particular region. The collective impact of all unobservable factors for one particular site is estimated by a hidden dimension method. Application to mosquito trap counts in Peel Region has shown that our model can significantly improve the modeling accuracy of the generalized linear model. This method may provide a significantly better characterization of the spatiotemporal distribution of mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) abundance in areas with green lands or open spaces.

Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease that is considered a priority of the World Health Organization due to its enormous impacts on global health. Plasmodium spp. (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae), Anopheles spp. (Diptera: Culicidae), and a suitable host are the key elements for malaria transmission. To disrupt the parasitic life cycle of malaria or prevent its transmission, these three key elements should be targeted by effective control strategies. Development of vaccines that interrupt malaria transmission is one of the solutions that has been recommended to the countries that aim to eliminate malaria. With respect to the important role of Anopheles stephensi in malaria transmission and involvement of Anopheles carboxypeptidase B1 in sexual parasite development, we characterized the second member of cpb gene family (cpbAs2) of An. Stephensi to provide some basic information and evaluate significance of cpbAs2's role in complementing sexual plasmodium development role of cpbAs1. The cpbAs2 mRNA sequence was characterized by 3′ and 5′ RACE and the structural features of its coded protein were studied by in silico modeling. The coding sequence and gene structure of cpbAs2 were determined empirically and compared with the in silico predictions from the An. stephensi genome sequencing project. Furthermore, homology modeling revealed that its structure is very similar to the structurally important domains of procarboxypeptidase B2 in humans. This study provides basic molecular and structural information about another member of the cpb gene family of An. stephensi.The reported results are informative and necessary for evaluation of the role of this gene in sexual parasite development by future studies.

Simulium undecimum sp. nov. is described from Thailand. This new species is assigned to the Simulium multistriatum species-group, one of the 20 species-groups of the subgenus Simulium in the Oriental Region. It is characterized by the female cibarium with minute processes, male ventral plate with a narrow body having two vertical rows of distinct teeth on the posterior surface and without setae on the anterior and lateral surfaces, pupal gill with eight short filaments decreasing in length from dorsal to ventral, and divergent at an angle of around 90 degrees when viewed laterally, spine-combs only on abdominal segments 7 and 8, and cocoon wall-pocket shaped with anterolateral windows. Taxonomic notes to separate this new species from related species in Thailand and other countries are given. This new species is the 11th nominal member of this species-group recorded in Thailand. An analysis of the COI gene sequences shows that it is most closely related with S. malayense Takaoka & Davies (cytoform A) from Thailand but they are distantly separated by 3.01–8.87%.

Although mean body lengths of females were significantly greater than males in individuals drawn from two Haematobia irritans (L.) sample populations (n = 20 females and n = 20 males from West Virginia; n = 20 females and n = 20 males from Georgia), there were no significant differences in food canal lengths for females versus males at either site. Variable numbers (21–37) of setiform sensillae occurred throughout the length of the food canal, but such sensillae were significantly aggregated in the distal-most canal region of both sexes at both sites. There was no significant difference in mean numbers of food canal setiform sensillae between females and males. Four basiconic (campaniform) sensillae were consistently observed in the food canal of every fly; always aggregated in the distal-most canal region. Setiform sensillae in the cibarium also varied in number (6–13), but were significantly aggregated in the median and proximal cibarial regions. Four (occasionally three) peg-like basiconic sensillae were also observed in the cibarium of sample individuals; always in the distal and distal median regions of both sexes. Sensory sensillae (both setiform and basiconic) in both the food canal and cibarium were similarly aggregated for both sexes at both sites. Aggregation of setiform and basiconic sensillae in the food canal suggests that the distal canal region is most critical for sensory input regarding monitoring blood flow, and stress forces brought to bear on the cuticle as the labrum tip penetrates the host's skin.

Prior to 1965, Singapore was part of the Malaya (now Malaysia) and was usually not mentioned when mosquito records were reported for Malaya. Consequently, many species that occurred in Singapore were not listed in the world mosquito catalog, and the available checklist for Singapore since 1986 is incomplete, with some imprecise species information. In updating this checklist, we examined and verified mosquito specimens collected from Singapore in various depositories, including a thorough review of past taxonomic literature. Here, we report a checklist of 182 mosquito species, 33 new distribution records, and a consolidated status list of vectors for Singapore. As Singapore is a travel hub and hosts one of the busiest container ports in the world, there is a risk of introducing mosquito species and their associated pathogens of human disease to the country. Hence, the distribution records are important to increase our knowledge on mosquito ecology as well as to understand the risk of newly introduced vectors and their associated pathogens.

Even though the seasonally dry tropical Caatinga forest is an historically neglected biome, recent studies have enhanced our knowledge of its biodiversity. We investigated larval habitats as well as the frequency and dynamics of immature and adult Culicidae in a conservation unit within the Caatinga in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. We carried out monthly surveys between July 2011 and October 2012 to count both immature (tree holes, bromeliad tanks, ponds, and rock holes and depressions) and adult individuals (Shannon traps baited with light). In total 8,021 individuals representing 32 taxa, eight of which are currently undescribed, were collected. The majority of the specimens collected came from tree holes followed by bromeliads, ponds, and rock depressions. Ponds had the highest species richness in this survey while the bromeliad fauna exhibited high endemicity. We also reveal a correlation between precipitation during the month prior to collection and the abundance of immature individuals in tree holes. Peaks in Haemagogus sp. near spegazzinii and Aedes terrens abundance were observed soon after rain, whereas Culex conservator was abundant during the rainy season in tree holes evidencing a species rotation within this habitat. Although the results of this study contribute to our knowledge regarding the distribution of mosquitoes in Brazilian semiarid region, further taxonomic studies will be required to fully understand the richness and endemism of the Neotropical Culicidae fauna.

Synanthropy and community structure of Ceratopogonidae in temperate Argentina were compared across an urbanization gradient to assess the impact of urbanization on species diversity and abundance. Adult ceratopogonids were collected from one natural, one Peri-urban, and two urban sites monthly for 12 months using CDC light traps. Nine-hundred one individuals belonging to nine genera and 59 species were collected. Forcipomyia Meigen was the genus with the highest species richness (n = 20), followed by Atrichopogon Kieffer (14), Dasyhelea Kieffer (8), Stilobezzia Kieffer (7), Culicoides Latreille (5), Bezzia Kieffer (2), Alluaudomyia Kieffer, Monohelea Kieffer, and Palpomyia Meigen (1). Only 15 species were present at the three different areas. Indices of species abundance (ISA) values were statistically similar between urban and Peri-urban areas, but these were significantly lower than those from the natural area. Atrichopogon balseiroi Spinelli, Dasyhelea sp. C., Forcipomyia poulaineae Ingram, and Macfie and F. nana (Macfie) were positively associated with rain fall, while A. albinensis, A. delpontei, D. suarezi, Forcipomyia sp. B, F. sp. I, F. pinamarensis, and F. calchaqui were associated to relative humidity. Species diversity was reduced in urbanized areas and these areas favored ubiquitous species: Forcipomyia taragui Marino, Spinelli and Cazorla, F. poulaineae, and Culicoides venezuelensis Ortiz and Mirsa.

Hylesia moths impact human health in South America, inducing epidemic outbreaks of lepidopterism, a puriginous dermatitis caused by the urticating properties of females' abdominal setae.The classification of the Hylesia genus is complex, owing to its high diversity in Amazonia, high intraspecific morphological variance, and lack of interspecific diagnostic traits which may hide cryptic species. Outbreaks of Hylesia metabus have been considered responsible for the intense outbreaks of lepidopterism in Venezuela and French Guiana since the C20, however, little is known about genetic variability throughout the species range, which is instrumental for establishing control strategies on H. metabus. Seven microsatellites and mitochondrial gene markers were analyzed from Hylesia moths collected from two major lepidopterism outbreak South American regions. The mitochondrial gene sequences contained significant genetic variation, revealing a single, widespread, polymorphic species with distinct clusters, possibly corresponding to populations evolving in isolation. The microsatellite markers validated the mitochondrial results, and suggest the presence of three populations: one in Venezuela, and two in French Guiana. All moths sampled during outbreak events in French Guiana were assigned to a single coastal population.The causes and implications of this finding require further research.

An efficient trapping tool is one of the most important factors in surveillance and research on arboviruses and their vectors. In the current study, we tested the efficiency of several traps for sampling West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) viruses and their vectors in Senegal during 2013. A total of 15,527 mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), 94.3% females, were collected. Among the known arbovirus vectors, Mansonia uniformis (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) was the most abundant (46.5%), followed by Culex poicilipes Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) (19.5%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) (8.0%), and Culex neaveiTheobald (Diptera: Culicidae) (6.1%).The geometric means of these vectors varied by trap, location, and height. WNV was isolated from Cx. neavei and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus collected by pigeon-baited traps within the canopy, CO₂-CDC traps within the canopy and at the ground. USUV was isolated only from Cx. neavei collected by pigeon-baited traps and CO₂-CDC traps within the canopy. Therefore, for each study, the trap to be chosen will depend on the mosquito species and virus targeted.

In 2016 spring and autumn migration seasons, 7,992 birds belonging to 83 species, 51 genera, 34 families, and 12 orders were examined for tick (Acari: Ixodidae) infestation in the Kızılırmak Delta, Samsun,Turkey. A total of 1,229 (649 larvae, 536 nymphs, 40 females, 4 males) ticks were collected from 349 (4.36%) birds belonging to 33 (39.75%) species within 16 families in the order Passeriformes. Nine tick species were identified belonging to the family Ixodidae, namely Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini & Fanzago, Haemaphysalis sulcata Canestrini & Fanzago, Hyalomma marginatum gr., Ixodes eldaricus Djaparidze, Ixodes festai Tonelli-Rondelli, Ixodes frontalis (Panzer), Ixodes redikorzevi Olenev, and Ixodes ricinus (L.).The present study also reports 78 different avian (resident, migratory or partially migratory) hosts for documented tick species; 63 (80.76%) of them were new tick–host records forTurkey. In addition, the presence of I. eldaricus and I. festai ticks were documented inTurkey for the first time.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmatacae), an understudied bacterial pathogen emerging in the eastern United States, is increasing throughout the range of its vector, the lone star tick [Amblyomma americanum, L. (Acari: Ixodidae)]. To mitigate human disease risk, we must understand what factors drive E. chaffeensis prevalence. Here, we report patterns of E. chaffeensis prevalence in southeastern Virginia across 4 yr and ask how seasonal weather patterns affect variation in rates of E. chaffeensis occurrence. We collected A. americanum nymphs at 130 plots across southeastern Virginia in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016, and used polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis to test for the presence of E. chaffeensis DNA. Prevalence estimates varied among years, ranging from 0.9% to 3.7%, and persistence of E. chaffeensis occurrence varied across space, with some sites never testing positive, and one site testing positive every year. Using generalized linear mixed-effects models, we related E. chaffeensis occurrence to temperature, humidity, vapor–pressure deficit, and precipitation during seasons up to 21 mo prior to sampling. Surprisingly, all support was lent to a positive effect of temperature during the previous fall and winter (i.e., prior to the nymphs' hatching), which we hypothesize to influence reservoir host population dynamics through changes to mortality or natality. Although further work is necessary to truly elucidate the mechanisms at play, our study shows E. chaffeensis distribution to be very dynamic across multiple dimensions, demanding broad concerted monitoring efforts that can consider both space and time.

We examined the effect of augmenting black light trap with CO₂ at two release rates for monitoring and surveillance of Culicoides at northern latitudes. Species composition was highly correlated among black light (BL) traps with no CO₂ (BL0 traps) and traps augmented with 300 and 1000 ml/min CO₂ (BL300 and BL1000 traps, respectively); however, traps augmented with CO₂ captured one to three more rare species than BL0 traps and can detect rare species that might be missed if BL0 traps were used. Addition of CO₂ increased the number of individuals captured from 1.4 to 38.5—fold for BL300 traps and from 1.5 to 153.5—fold for BL1000 traps. This advantage may be lost in areas with low abundance as might be expected at the limits of species.The daily probability of detecting a species was greater for traps augmented with CO₂, but this can be compensated for by operating BL0 traps for sufficient time. The association between numbers captured by BL0 and BL300 and BL1000 traps also suggests that BL0 traps may provide useful measures of relative abundance for Culicoides sonorensis, Culicoides davisi, and Culicoides riethi, again providing the BL0 traps are left to operate for some period. Measurements of diel activity were influenced by trap type only for a single species and were primarily determined by solar radiation, temperature, and windspeed. Overall, the use of BL0 only traps for widescale surveys is supported, especially given their convenience.

Periplaneta americana (L.) (Blattaria: Blattidae), the American cockroach, is the most important invasive urban pest of sewer environments colonizing there with high significance of human public health and household allergens need to be controlled. Therefore this practical approach systematic review perform internationally to highlight and provide a detailed P. americana control in sewers. Among 474 searched papers, 129 of those were selected to become this practical approach systematic review of the American cockroach control in sewers. To control the American cockroaches, many studies have been conducted in various fields describing from an angle. The results were classified and discussed in getting cockroaches from sewers into buildings and their elimination, insecticide susceptibility, application of dust, bait and Inesfly paint insecticide formulations, biocontrol, and futuristic action categories. A recommending manner to achieve a successful P. americana cockroach control in sewers is using a combination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies resulted in significant reductions of cockroach infestations and asthma health outcomes. Use of the American cockroach breeding thelytoky, push–pull strategies and an automated sewer robot, and integrating health into the future buildings may be new approaches of the American cockroach control strategies.

Reducing water-holding containers that provide habitat for immature-stage (eggs, larvae, pupae) mosquitoes is often an effective means of managing urban mosquito-borne diseases. It is generally accepted that adult mosquito abundances are strongly influenced by the availability of container habitat. Yet few studies have directly examined if adult abundances are associated with the presence and abundance of immature stages among city blocks, which is the spatial scale at which common urban mosquitoes disperse and management is often conducted. In this study, we compared larval and pupal population metrics to adult female abundances of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex pipiens/restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) across 12 blocks in four socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD. Aedes albopictus and Cx. pipiens/restuans were the most abundant taxa, constituting 81.8 and 95.8% of collected adult and immature-stage individuals, respectively. Despite being collected on all blocks in all neighborhoods, adult female Ae. albopictus but not Cx. pipiens/restuans were predicted by immature-stage population metrics. Adult female Ae. albopictus abundance was positively and consistently predicted by the mean number of occupied discarded containers per parcel across the four socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods. Our results suggest that immature-stage monitoring in landscapes dominated by container habitat may not be an effective predictor of adult Cx. pipiens/restuans abundance, but removing discarded container habitat should be a priority action to manage Ae. albopictus, which is usually the most pestiferous species in temperate cities in the eastern United States and many regions worldwide.

Permethrin-treated clothing is available as consumer products to prevent bites by tick and insect pests. We used bioassays to examine the impact of wearing and washing/drying of permethrin-treated shirts, pants, and socks, and wearing of treated shoes, on their contact irritancy and toxicity for nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks, the primary vectors in the eastern United States of the causative agents of Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, and human babesiosis. Pristine permethrin-treated clothing displayed strong contact irritancy and toxicity toward I. scapularis nymphs, with 0–30% of ticks across clothing types and tick sources displaying normal movement 1 h after forced contact for 30–120 s with treated textile. Following 16 d of wear and 16 rounds of machine washing and drying, we recorded reduced concentrations (by 50–90%) of permethrin, compared with pristine treated clothing, from shirts, pants, and socks.This loss of permethrin was associated with reduced contact irritancy and toxicity for ticks after forced contact with worn and washed/dried treated clothing: 31–67% of ticks displayed normal movement 1 h after contact. Nevertheless, the worn and washed/dried treated clothing was still superior to nontreated textile, for which 90–100% of ticks displayed normal movement.Treated shoes, which were worn but not washed, remained as toxic to the ticks as pristine treated shoes. We caution that these laboratory bioassay results should not be interpreted as being directly indicative of the outcome of using washed/worn permethrin-treated clothing in daily life. Although wear and washing/drying did reduce the irritancy and toxicity of permethrin-treated clothing for I. scapularis nymphs more than we had expected, the remaining effect might still reduce the risk of tick bites in a real-life scenario.

As tick resistance to conventional acaricides becomes more common, alternative control tactics are gaining attention. Insecticidal dusts CimeXa and Surround, based on silica gel and kaolin, respectively, were assessed against Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) eggs, larvae, and nymphs in the laboratory. Coverage by the dry dusts, particularly CimeXa, was strongly lethal to larvae and to a lesser extent to nymphs. Larval mortality was also high when larvae crawled across thin layers of CimeXa and, to a lesser extent, Surround dusts. CimeXa was more lethal to nymphs that crawled across a thin layer than Surround. Larval mortality after crawling on dried aqueous suspensions of the dusts for 30 min and for 48 h caused moderate mortality (<80%) regardless of a 10-fold difference in concentration; nymphal mortality was negligible. In a field experiment, CimeXa dust strongly reduced numbers of Gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Koch) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), larvae and nymphs by 24 h. Possible application of CimeXa to control other species of ixodid ticks is discussed as well as advantages and disadvantages of using dusts for tick control under field conditions.

In urban environments, road-side catch basins are common larval habitats of Culex spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes and important targets of larval control in areas subject to West Nile virus (WNv) transmission. We quantified the impact of larviciding basins on Culex spp. populations and WNv infection prevalence by treating basins in and around urban parks in Atlanta, GA, using Mosquito Dunks and Bits (active ingredient, a.i., Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. isrealensis, Dunks—10.31%, Bits—2.86%) and Altosid 30-Day Briquets (a.i., S-methoprene 8.62%) in two separate seasons. Treatments were coupled with WNv surveillance using gravid traps and aspiration of adults resting in basins. Larviciding led to >90% reductions in Culex spp. larval and pupal collections (Dunks/ Bits) and >90% pupal mortality (Briquets) in treated sites during treatment periods; however, we did not observe significant reductions in Culex spp. collections in gravid traps (general linear mixed-effects model [GLMM] result, P > 0.1) or in adults collected resting in basins (GLMM, P > 0.5). In addition, WNv infection prevalence in Culex spp. mosquitoes was similar between treated and untreated sites (GLMM, P > 0.05). Larval control remains important for controlling WNv in Atlanta; however, at the scale and frequency applied in our study, larval control alone may not lead to meaningful reductions in adult populations and WNv infection prevalence. A greater understanding of the annual dynamics of Culex spp. breeding and the importance of basins as Culex spp. larval habitats are needed to meaningfully affect WNv in cities such as Atlanta.

The rapid expansion of Zika virus (ZIKV), following the recent outbreaks of Chikungunya virus, overwhelmed the public health infrastructure in many countries and alarmed many in the scientific community. Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) have previously been incriminated as the vectors of these pathogens in addition to dengue virus. In our study, we challenged low generation Ae. aegypti (Chiapas, Mexico) and Ae. albopictus (North Carolina, Mississippi), with three strains of ZIKV, Puerto Rico (GenBank: KU501215), Honduras (GenBank: KX694534), and Miami (GenBank: MF988743). Following an oral challenge with 10^7.5 PFU/ml of the Puerto Rico strain, we observed high infection and dissemination rates in both species (95%). We report estimated transmission rates for both species (74 and 33%, for Ae. aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), respectively), and the presence of a probable salivary gland barrier in Ae. albopictus to Zika virus. Finally, we calculated vectorial capacity for both species and found that Ae. albopictus had a slightly lower vectorial capacity when compared with Ae. aegypti. Second Language Abstract: La rápida expansión del virus Zika, poco después de las epidemias de chikungunya, rebaso la infraestructura de salud pública en muchos países y sorprendió a muchos en la comunidad científica. Notablemente, Aedes aegypti y Aedes albopictus transmiten estos patógenos además del virus del dengue. En este estudio se expusieron con tres cepas americanas de virus Zika a grupos de Aedes aegypti y Aedes albopictus de generación reciente. Encontramos altos porcentajes de infección y diseminación en ambas especies (95%). Se reporta, la transmisión viral en ambas especies (74 y 33%, para Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, respectivamente) y una probable barrera a nivel de glándulas salivarías. Finalmente, calculamos la capacidad vectorial para ambas especies.

In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) (the vector of Japanese B Encephalitis) and geo-environmental features (rice fields, forests, watercourses, and highways) correlated with their abundance in pigsties of Dao County, Hunan Province, China. First, light trapping in pigsties was carried out to determine vector density. Second, based on Advanced Land Observing Satellite remote-sensing datasets, spatial datasets of mosquito density and various geo-environmental features were constructed using Geography Information System. Finally, spatial statistical analysis and general linear regression were used to analyze the spatial distribution of vectors in relation to the geo-environmental features correlating with the abundance of mosquitoes in pigsties. As the results show, the distribution of mosquitoes in pigsties was not spatially autocorrelated, and several geo-environmental features that were either positively or negatively correlated with mosquito abundance in pigsties were identified. The application of these results to improve the control of vectors of Japanese B Encephalitis is also discussed.

In this study, we analyzed species composition, richness, and monthly and seasonal abundance of sand flies in an urban area, municipality Caxias, state Maranhão, endemic for American visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis. Sand flies were caught using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps in peridomicile (animal shelter) and extradomicile (forest) environments twice a month for 1 yr. A total of 16,332 specimens belonging to 20 species were captured. The predominant species identified in this study were Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) (Lutz and Neiva 1912) (43.08%) and Lutzomyia whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae) (Antunes and Coutinho 1939) (43.02%), which occurred throughout the year (every month). The highest abundance of phlebotomine was recorded during the dry season (53.75%) and in the urban peridomicile environment (59.1%), wherein 17 species were found. In the study area, L. longipalpis and L. whitmani are reported to be effective visceral or tegumentary leishmaniasis vectors, respectively, due to their abundance throughout the year.

To better understand the impact of social wasps on the health of people in South Korea, we analyzed requests to emergency services call centers for the removal of social wasp nests and the effect of Hymenoptera stings on human health between 2010 and 2014.There were 483,233 calls requesting removal of wasp nests and Hymenoptera stings caused 78,860 injuries and 49 deaths. The strong relationships between both the number of emergency calls and injuries, and urban density reflect the sensitivity of densely populated areas to potential threats from wasp and the increased awareness of the wasp nest removal service communicated by public education programs. We found that the removed nests belonged to 17 species of social wasp, with Polistes rothneyi koreanus Vecht and Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson being the most prevalent. Problems associated with the invasive V. v. nigrithorax increased as the species became more widely distributed across the country and more abundant in urban areas. Increases in the incidence of sting injuries among males aged 40–69 between July and September were likely due to increased exposure during outdoor activities involving less-fit adults. In total, 1.5% of victims required hospitalization, of which 98.5% were treated as outpatients. Total medical costs associated with wasp stings over the 5-yr period were approximately 3.2 million USD. Although most wasp sting–related injuries were minor, some were serious, including fatalities, and were probably attributable to lack of education on wasp attack behavior.

Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), an arboviral and filarial vector, is one of the most widespread mosquitoes in the world. The indiscriminate use of synthetic chemical insecticides has led to the development of resistance in mosquito populations worldwide. The effect of continuous exposure to crude extracts of Argemone mexicana, the Mexican poppy, on the development and growth stages of second-instar larvae of the mosquito was studied, along with qualitative chemical analysis of the different plant parts. Inhibition, mortality, and larval and pupal duration phases were assessed. Second-instar mosquito larvae were exposed to crude ethanol extracts of flowers, stems, and seeds. Flower extract exhibited the strongest larvicidal activity with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values after 24 h of exposure of 18.61 and 39.86 ppm, respectively, and 9.47 and 21.76 ppm after 48 h. Extracts from stem and seeds were significantly less effective. The flower extract registered a Growth Inhibition Index of 0.01 at 25 ppm, with stems and seeds registering 0.05 and 0.08, respectively, at 100 ppm (control group 1.02). Qualitative chemical analysis by thin-layer chromatography showed characteristic spots indicating the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids and phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids in the various crude extracts. This is the first report of the effectiveness of an ethanol flower extract of A. mexicana on Cx. quinquefasciatus; it can be considered a promising alternative control for this mosquito species.

The present study was designed for identification of arthropods species in Urmia city municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in 2014.The specimens were collected by hand and with sweep net. After the initial classification at the order level, genus and species identification were done using morphological identification keys. In total, 1,913 arthropod samples were collected. The samples were classified into four different classes. The most abundant species of arachnids was Steatoda paykulliana Walckenaer (Araneae: Theridiidae) and Agelenopsis spp. Giebel (Araneae: Agelenidae). Out of nine insect orders, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera were the most prevalent, all of which include medically important species. Sixteen families and 25 genera of insects were collected, including the muscid genera, Musca, Muscinia, Phannia, and Stomoxys. Musca, Psyllabora, and Phania were the most prevalent insect genera. In total, 33 species of arthropods were collected from MSW landfill in Urmia. Five insect species were heterometabolic including medically important species, Periplaneta americana Linnaeus (Blattodea: Blattidae) and Shelfordella lateralisWalker (Blattodea: Ectobiidae). Determination of the fauna in MSW landfill will be helpful in the control of possible vector borne disease epidemics.

Sand fly fauna is frequently sampled using automatic light or Shannon traps, yet few studies have been devoted to investigating the effectiveness of Disney traps baited with live animals as an attractant. This study sought to identify the phlebotomine fauna attracted to Disney traps having hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as bait. A hamster-baited Disney trap was installed in a gallery forest located in Águas do Miranda District, Bonito Municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, from November 2011 to October 2012. A total of 717 phlebotomines were collected, in which male (251) and female (463) specimens of the Cortelezzii series (Diptera: Psychodidae) predominated (99%). Males were attracted from January to July, whereas the females were predominantly attracted from January to May. No significant correlation was observed between the monthly climatic averages of temperature, rains and humidity, and the numbers of insects collected. Although these findings showed the attractiveness of both sexes of the species of the Cortelezzii series to golden hamsters, further studies are needed to investigate the blood meal preferences of these females to other rodents. As rodents have been reported as reservoirs of Leishmania spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), research using live-baited traps can reveal feeding preferences of sand flies and the importance of various rodent species in the zoonotic cycle.

Biological control can be an effective tool to combat public health risks associated with mosquito-borne disease. However, target impacts of biological control agents may be reduced by biotic contexts such as the presence of alternative prey. In turn, this can impede our ability to realistically assess biocontrol agent efficacy. Here, we examine the effects of alternative ciliate prey on the predation potential of two cyclopoid copepods, Macrocyclops albidus Jurine (Cyclopoida: Cyclopidae) and Megacyclops viridis Jurine (Cyclopoida: Cyclopidae), toward larvae of the West Nile virus vector mosquito Culex pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae). Using functional responses (FRs; resource use under different resource densities), we demonstrate that both copepods exhibit potentially destabilizing type II FRs toward mosquito prey. However, where the alternative prey was present, we observed species-specific modulations to FR form and magnitude. For M. albidus, FRs remained type II where ciliate prey were present, however, maximum feeding rates on mosquito larvae were reduced. Conversely, for M. viridis, FRs moved toward more stabilizing type III, while maximum feeding rates on mosquito larvae were not significantly reduced. While both species of cyclopoid copepod were able to effectively target and consume larval mosquitoes in the presence of alternative prey, we demonstrate that overall efficacies may be reduced in aquatic habitats which contain multiple prey types. We thus advocate that biotic contexts such as prey selectivity should be integrated into predatory biocontrol agent examinations for mosquitoes which vector pathogens and parasites, to more holistically assess their efficacy.

The following study investigates louse parasitism of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord, Rodentia: Sciuridae)) on 20 plots at 13 colonies in the short-grass prairie of New Mexico, USA, June–August, 2011–2012. Among 124 lice collected from 537 prairie dogs during 1,207 sampling events in which anesthetized animals were combed for ectoparasites, all of the lice were identified as Linognathoides cynomyis (Kim, Phthiraptera: Polyplacidae). Data were analyzed under an information-theoretic approach to identify factors predicting louse parasitism. Lice were most prevalent on plots with high densities of prairie dogs. At the scale of hosts, lice were most abundant on prairie dogs in poor body condition (with low mass:foot ratios) and prairie dogs harboring large numbers of fleas (Siphonaptera, mostly Oropsylla hirsuta (Baker, Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) and Pulex simulans (Baker,Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)). Lice have been implicated as supplemental vectors of the primarily flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis (Yersin, Enterobacteriales: Yersiniaceae), a re-emerging pathogen that causes sylvatic plague in prairie dog populations. Coparasitism by lice and fleas, as found herein, might enhance plague transmission. L. cynomyis deserves attention in this context.

Meccus pallidipennis Stål is a vector for Chagas disease. The extensive use of pyrethroid insecticides to control triatomines in Mexico has resulted in the development of resistant populations. As an alternative control approach, the effects on M. pallidipennis eggs of two entomopathogenic fungi, Isaria fumosorosea Wize (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) EH-511/3 and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) EH-473/4, were examined. Egg mortality was estimated 1 mo after egg infection, based on hyphal growth and unsuccessful hatching as proxies for infection and death. Sporulation and conidial production rates were also recorded. Mortality rates caused by I. fumosorosea and Me. anisopliae were 92% ± 3.1 and 88% ± 3.7, respectively. Sporulation rate and conidial production were greater in I. fumosorosea than in Me. anisopliae. Transmission electron microscopy revealed hyphal penetration by both fungal species and damage to embryonic epidermal and cuticular cells. Our results demonstrated that I. fumosorosea and Me. anisopliae are promising candidates for controlling M. pallidipennis eggs and offer alternatives to control the transmission of Chagas disease under natural conditions.

The 2015–2016 epidemic of Zika virus in the Americas raised concerns about the range of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the United States. In response, the University of Wisconsin Medical Entomology Laboratory coordinated with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in 2016 to conduct Aedes spp. surveillance and set up an oviposition trap (ovitrap) network operated by local public health partners across southern and western Wisconsin. During 2016, 916 ovitrap events were processed, but only Aedes triseriatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) were detected. In 2017, a focused surveillance approach was employed to detect Ae. albopictus near sites with tires stored outdoors. Using this targeted approach, Ae. albopictus was detected from ovitraps in two out of seven counties surveyed during June, July, and August. This is the first record of Ae. albopictus in Wisconsin.