Temporal Variability and Trap Preferences of Mosquitoes in Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area

Authors: Alex Palmer, Cynthia Downs, Jason Wright

SUNY Campus: SUNY ESF

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: UU 111

Presentation #: 73

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a virus that arrived at the east coast of the US at the end of the 19th century and has spread since to most parts of North America. It has impacted many species, but especially bird populations in both urban and rural environments since its arrival. Ruffed grouse in particular have experienced severe declines due to WNV. Important vectors for the virus include Culex restuans, Culex pipiens, Culex salinarius, Coquilettidia perturbans, Aedes japonicus, Ochlerotatus triseriatus, Culiseta melanura, and others. This study aimed to determine the seasonality of different West Nile vectors, and also to examine which trap type is most effective at capturing mosquitoes. The study site was at Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area in Williamstown, New York. We went out twice a week to set and collect mosquito traps, and the other three days of the week were spent in the lab sorting the mosquitoes by species. We determined that there are clear seasonality differences among the examined mosquito species. We also determined that light traps are most effective for trapping mosquitoes in terms of abundance and richness of the trapped species. The information obtained through this study is important for determining which West Nile vectors are present in rural areas and how their community composition can change throughout the summer season. This is important to better understand what mosquito vectors are impacting populations of wildlife such as the ruffed grouse.