Aedes triseriatus is the principal vector of La Crosse virus (LACv), which is the most common cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis in North America. Here we report a novel species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that differentially identifies Ae. triseriatus and Ae. hendersoni. Because these 2 sibling species differ in their abilities to transmit LACv, accurate identification is critical for surveillance, research, and control programs. This duplex assay can detect the presence of both species in a single PCR reaction and is therefore simpler and faster than previously reported methods.

In order to gather information on the culicid fauna of Nova Iguaçu Municipal Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, adult and immature stages were collected with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps, and dippers and suction tubes, respectively. In all, 828 adult and 990 immature specimens were collected belonging to 12 genera. Among the species collected were Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. fluviatilis, Ae. scapularis, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, and Psorophora ferox that are considered of potential medical importance. Culicids used a variety of larval habitats and bred under diverse ecological conditions, mostly in natural water containers formed by bamboo, bromeliad, ground depression, rock pool, stream, tree hole, and in artificial containers such as abandoned bathtub, car carcass, abandoned sink, plastic cup, waste tire, and water tank. Species richness and diversity increased from lower to higher forest cover and was highest in sites with highest diversity and high number of larval habitats.

This study was conducted to determine Anopheles species composition and their natural infectivity by human Plasmodium in 2 localities with the highest malaria transmission in San Jose del Guaviare, Guaviare, Colombia. A total of 1,009 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected using human landing catches during 8 months in 2010. Anopheles darlingi was the most abundant (83.2%) followed by An. albitarsis s.l. (8.6%), Anopheles braziliensis (3.8%), An. oswaldoi s.l. (1%), and An. rangeli (0.3%). Anopheles darlingi showed the highest human biting rate, and it was found naturally infected with Plasmodium vivax VK210 (0.119%) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. All species were collected biting both indoors and outdoors. Anopheles darlingi showed biting activity overnight with an indoor peak between 1200–0100 h. Therefore, we recommend that malaria prevention strategies focus on 1) insecticide-treated nets to reduce human–vector contact when people are most exposed and unprotected; 2) accurate diagnoses; 3) adequate treatment for patients; 4) more timely epidemiological notification; and 5) improved entomological surveillance.

We evaluated 2 strategies to manage Aedes albopictus: 1) motorized backpack applications and 2) source reduction (coupled with hand-applied applications of larvicide). Backpack applications used a water-dispersible granular formulation (VectoBac® WDG) of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti), whereas source reduction used granular formulations of the insect growth regulator methoprene (Altosid®) combined with a monomolecular film surfactant (Agnique®). Six subplots (total 8.02 ha) were selected for backpack applications, source reduction, and control groups. The experiments were blind with applications conducted randomly and independently. Efficacy was determined through placement of bioassay cups with larvae within experimental plots 1 day before treatment. Backpack applications resulted in 76% (±8.2% SE) and source reduction resulted in 92% (±4.1% SE) larval mortality. Backpack applications required 50 times less labor than source reduction (0.25 versus 0.005 ha/h). The cost of backpack applications, including labor, was $159.88/ha, compared with $659.65/ha for source reduction. Although overall efficacy was slightly lower, motorized backpack applications of Bti were more efficient and cost-effective than source reduction methods to control Ae. albopictus in urban settings at the community level.

A group of researchers, mosquito and coastal managers, and consultants joined together to explore issues of concern to coastal and mosquito management in mangrove forests. At a 1-day workshop in Florida, participants identified issues that are important for their roles. The issues were subsequently compiled into a matrix and the participants were asked to individually assess the importance and urgency of each. The most important issues for everyone included habitat responses to management, community attitude, public education, interaction between agencies, local connectivity, sea-level rise (SLR) loss of wetlands, and conservation. Most urgent were public education, conservation easements, local connectivity, SLR, loss of wetland, restoration, and conservation. There were differing viewpoints among the roles that appeared to be related to responsibility for and ability to influence on-ground outcomes. This is reflected in mosquito and coastal managers who viewed issues broadly and ascribed higher levels of importance and urgency to them than did researchers and consultants. We concluded that collaboration is a key issue. Barriers to collaboration include knowledge differences between agencies. Facilitators of collaboration include interaction, trust, and shared goals.

A decrease in host-seeking activity in female Aedes albopictus was observed after exposure to a human hand tested in an olfactometer in the laboratory. The increased treatment times resulted in a decreasing response to a human hand. Fatigued/exhausted female mosquitoes after multiple host-seeking activities did prolong the blood engorgement time, compared with untreated nonfatigued mosquitoes. Also, fatigued mosquitoes showed a significant reduction in human host–attacking rates. The mean duration of protection from mosquito bites of human hand treated with 25% deet (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) was higher in fatigued than unfatigued mosquitoes.

The last published report of the mosquito species composition present in the state of Iowa was published in 1969 and included 43 species in 8 genera. Since that time, reassessment of specimens in the Iowa State Insect Collection and annual mosquito surveillance efforts have yielded 12 new species records, bringing the total to 55 species in 8 genera. In addition to providing an updated taxonomic checklist for the state of Iowa, abundance information is provided for each species using specimen counts from New Jersey light trapping events that span 45 years.

The Biogents Sentinel (BGS) trap is a very effective tool to monitor adult populations of Aedes albopictus. We utilized BGS traps during an intensive 5-year surveillance as part of an “Area-wide Management Program for the Asian Tiger Mosquito.” During this period, >52,000 mosquitoes were collected, comprising a total of 24 species. The most abundant species was Ae. albopictus (54.4%) followed by Culex spp. (8.7%), which primarily comprised Culex pipiens pipiens (6.5%) and Cx. restuans (0.9%). We also collected >15,000 male specimens of Ae. albopictus (28.7%) and >3,400 males of Culex spp. (6.8%). Other species captured through our surveillance only comprised 1.7% of the total. Although BGS traps are becoming the gold standard instrument for Ae. albopictus surveillance, they can also be used to collect other important mosquito species, which can enhance existing vector surveillance programs.

The efficiency of the recently developed handheld InsectaZooka™ (IZ) aspirator was compared to that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Backpack (CDC-BP) aspirator by conducting human bait collections on 2 islets (locally called motus) of the atoll of Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. Abundance of mosquitoes was compared between the wind-exposed and wind-protected sides of each motu to measure the effect of wind on mosquito distribution. The number of host-seeking Aedes polynesiensis mosquitoes collected on the 2 motus with either sampling device was not significantly different. Collection of male mosquitoes was low irrespective of the type of aspirator used. Wind had an effect on mosquito distribution, as females were more abundant on the protected sides of both motus. The IZ aspirator is a lighter and equally efficient alternative to the CDC-BP aspirator for collecting Ae. polynesiensis.

Dengue periodically circulates in southern Texas and neighboring Tamaulipas, Mexico; thus, a closer examination of human and vector ecology at the northern limits of North American transmission may improve prevention activities. Scrap tires produce large mosquito populations and increase the risk of dengue transmission. Some households choose not to pay tire disposal fees, and many tires are illegally dumped in residential areas. Biological control may provide low-cost and environmentally friendly mosquito control. This pilot study evaluated the ability of Mesocyclops longisetus to reduce mosquito populations in existing residential scrap tire piles. Mosquito populations were measured by the number of all mosquito pupae within tires or adult Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus near piles. Mesocyclops longisetus–treated piles did not significantly reduce total mosquito pupae (P  =  0.07) in Matamoros, Mexico. The study also evaluated the efficacy of native Toxorhynchites moctezuma which preferentially colonized tire piles under vegetation cover in Brownsville, TX. Toxorhynchites moctezuma larvae significantly reduced total mosquito pupae, but the strength of control diminished over time.

Commercial formulations of 3 repellents: OFF® Active (active ingredient [AI] 15% N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide [deet]), OFF® Family Care (AI 5% picaridin), and CVS Pharmacy Fresh Insect Repellent® (AI 10% citronella, 2% lauryl sulfate, and 0.2% potassium sorbate) were evaluated to determine the mean protection time provided against the large floodwater mosquitoes, Psorophora ciliata and Ps. howardii. Each of these products contained different active ingredients and displayed different protection times, but repellency was in accordance with each product's label reapplication times/repellency durations. The CVS Pharmacy Fresh Insect Repellent provided the least protection (2 h and 26 min), followed by OFF Family Care (3 h and 46 min). OFF Active afforded the longest protection (5 h and 41 min), which was significantly higher than the other treatments (P < 0.001).

Chemical insecticides are the primary means to control mosquitoes, and mosquito control programs must regularly monitor for resistance of mosquito vectors to commonly used insecticides to ensure the efficacy and sustainability of active ingredients. We performed insecticide resistance bioassays to test the susceptibility of field-collected mosquitoes in central New Jersey to 1 larvicide (temephos) and 2 adulticides (malathion and sumithrin). Larval susceptibility of Culex pipiens pipiens to temephos provided median concentration (LC₅₀) and 95% lethal concentration (LC₉₅) values of 1.108 µg/l and 2.02 µg/l, respectively. Bottle bioassays of adult Aedes albopictus showed that 100% mortality was achieved at 35-min exposure to sumithrin and at 40-min to malathion. Baseline values were obtained using both temephos and sumithrin. Our bioassays indicate satisfactory susceptibility to temephos and sumithrin in Ae. albopictus and Cx. p. pipiens field populations in central New Jersey. Despite constant field use, both products are still effective and can be used adequately for control of the test species. However, the susceptibility of target insects to various formulations should be closely monitored periodically to ensure continual efficacy.

We carried out dengue virus surveillance in Aedes aegypti populations from 47 neighborhoods of Acapulco during the rainy season of 2011 following a standard national protocol and as an improvement of the entomological surveillance of the Mexican Dengue Control Program. A total of 4,146 Ae. aegypti adults collected indoors and/or emerged from eggs, larvae, or pupae from households with dengue reports (probable or confirmed cases), were grouped into pools and processed using a standardized serotype-specific 4-plex real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction assay. Overall, only 2 (0.9%) of 226 pools of Ae. aegypti adults (1 pool of adults emerged from field-collected larvae, and another of indoor-collected adults) were positive for dengue virus 1 (DENV-1). This is appears to be the 1st report of evidence on the vertical and transovarial transmission of DENV-1 in field-caught Ae. aegypti in Mexico.