| dc.description.abstract | In 2004 and 2005 field work was conducted to survey and monitor larval and adult mosquito populations in urban habitats with, primary interest in Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito.
In 2004 and 2005 a state-wide survey of tire-breeding mosquitoes was conducted. Tire sites in all 67 counties in the state of Alabama were sampled for mosquito larvae. A total of 13,022 mosquito larvae, representing 13 mosquito species in 7 genera, was collected. The most frequently collected species were Ae. albopictus (71%),Culex territans (7.5%), and Ochlerotatus triseriatus (7.1%). The following species were also collected: Cx. restuans (5.2%), Cx. salinarius (3.5%), Orthopodomyia signifera (2.7%), Cx. quinquefasciatus (1.2%), Oc. atropalpus (<1%), Toxorhynchites rutilus (<1%), Anopheles punctipennis (<1%), An. quadrimaculatus (<1%), An. spp. (<1%), and Psorophora columbiae (<1%). No Ae. aegypti or Oc. japonicus were collected from tires during this survey. Psorophora columbiae was also collected from discarded tires, representing the first recorded collection of this species from tires.
This study demonstrated that since the first detection of Ae. albopictus at Cullman, Alabama in 1985, Ae. albopictus has established itself throughout the state becoming the most common tire-inhabiting mosquito in Alabama. Results also showed that the yellow fever mosquito Ae. aegypti is no longer the dominant tire-breeder in Alabama. In fact it appears that Ae. aegypti has been displaced from tires throughout state.
In 2004, studies were conducted to evaluate the short-range mosquito attractant 1-octeno-3-ol (octenol) used with commercially available propane-powered mosquito traps to increase collections of urban mosquitoes. Octenol was evaluated using the Mosquito Magnet ProTM (MMP) trap.Three field trials were conducted in the communities of Auburn and Phenix City, Alabama. Four MMP traps were placed in a 1x2 factorial design. Aedes albopictus, Coquillettida perturbans, and Oc. triseriatus collections were significantly enhanced with octenol as determined with a 3-way ANOVA, P < .05. Anopheles punctipennis, Ps. columbiae, Cx. restuans, and Cx. salinarius collections were also significantly enhanced with octenol as determined by a Chi-square analysis, P < .05. Twelve out of 13 mosquito species were collected in greater numbers with octenol than without octenol throughout this study. | en_US |
