Mosquito Sampling Mosquito Sampling and Techniquesand Techniques

Dr. Russell Wright, Prof. Dr. Russell Wright, Prof. EmeritusEmeritus

Classification Based on Classification Based on Larval Habitat Larval Habitat

Flood Water MosquitoesFlood Water Mosquitoes

Permanent Water MosquitoesPermanent Water Mosquitoes Permanent Pool GroupPermanent Pool Group Transient Water GroupTransient Water Group

Container MosquitoesContainer Mosquitoes

Larval HabitatLarval Habitat

Important to know which Important to know which mosquitoes cause problems and mosquitoes cause problems and when.when.

Identify larval habitats based on Identify larval habitats based on adults present.adults present.

Most effective to find and map Most effective to find and map larval habitats and eliminate or larval habitats and eliminate or treat in this stage.treat in this stage.

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

Vehicle to get around.Vehicle to get around. Good topographical map or at least a plat Good topographical map or at least a plat

or city map.or city map. Data sheets.Data sheets. Boots.Boots. Dipper, collecting jars, small straining Dipper, collecting jars, small straining

type net or large bulb syringe. type net or large bulb syringe. Water proof marking pens, tape etc. Water proof marking pens, tape etc. Carrying box or container, ice chest etc.Carrying box or container, ice chest etc.

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

DipperDipper PipetPipet AspiratorAspirator Flashlight Flashlight

AspiratorAspirator Larval ContainerLarval Container Bag for extra Bag for extra

vials, pens, vials, pens, labeling tape, labeling tape, etc.etc.

How do you Survey How do you Survey for Larval Mosquito for Larval Mosquito

Habitats?Habitats?

Floodwater SpeciesFloodwater Species Look for areas of standing water Look for areas of standing water

immediately after heavy rains or immediately after heavy rains or flooding.flooding.

Most municipalities should have an idea Most municipalities should have an idea of location of such problem areas.of location of such problem areas.

Roadside ditches, low lying pools in Roadside ditches, low lying pools in woodlands or field area.woodlands or field area.

Must exist long enough for mosquito Must exist long enough for mosquito larvae to develop. In spring 10-14 days. larvae to develop. In spring 10-14 days. In summer 6-10 days.In summer 6-10 days.

Floodwater Mosquitoes – Floodwater Mosquitoes – Aedes Aedes vexansvexans

Floodwater Mosquitoes – Floodwater Mosquitoes – Aedes Aedes vexansvexans

Permanent Water Permanent Water MosquitoesMosquitoes

Permanent Pool Group Permanent Pool Group Usually fresh water, shallow grassy edges Usually fresh water, shallow grassy edges

of ponds, even lakes edges of slow moving of ponds, even lakes edges of slow moving rivers or streams. rivers or streams.

Generally these species are not serious Generally these species are not serious pests in Oklahoma and certainly probably pests in Oklahoma and certainly probably do not contribute much to the do not contribute much to the transmission of West Nile virus.transmission of West Nile virus.

Although these area may seem like the Although these area may seem like the logical areas to look often are least likely logical areas to look often are least likely to have pest mosquitoes species.to have pest mosquitoes species.

Permanent Water Permanent Water MosquitoesMosquitoes

Transient Pool Group.Transient Pool Group. Most of the important species of Most of the important species of CulexCulex

that feed primarily on birds and likely are that feed primarily on birds and likely are the chief vector of WNV between birds the chief vector of WNV between birds and mosquitoes.and mosquitoes.

Any area of standing water that lasts for Any area of standing water that lasts for days to weeks can range from fairly fresh days to weeks can range from fairly fresh water around dripping faucets, plumbing, water around dripping faucets, plumbing, or irrigation systems to very polluted or irrigation systems to very polluted water in sewage lagoons.water in sewage lagoons.

Sources of TransientSources of TransientPermanent WaterPermanent Water

Floodwater pools that are in low lying area Floodwater pools that are in low lying area that may persist for three or four weeks, that may persist for three or four weeks, especially if refilled by rain or overflow water. especially if refilled by rain or overflow water. Usually somewhat stagnant.Usually somewhat stagnant.

Low lying areas of storm sewers systems, Low lying areas of storm sewers systems, catch basins.catch basins.

Many cities and towns of Oklahoma do not Many cities and towns of Oklahoma do not have storm sewer system. Overflow rainwater have storm sewer system. Overflow rainwater runs down roadside ditches to catch basins, runs down roadside ditches to catch basins, creeks, etc. Often after water has quit flowing creeks, etc. Often after water has quit flowing and water stands in low areas. One key area and water stands in low areas. One key area often missed are drive way culverts of homes. often missed are drive way culverts of homes.

Sources of Transient Sources of Transient Permanent Water cont.Permanent Water cont.

Water accumulations around leaking Water accumulations around leaking plumbing, irrigation systems, etc.plumbing, irrigation systems, etc.

Marshy low lying swampy areas. Marshy low lying swampy areas. Water that has accumulated in area such Water that has accumulated in area such

as abandoned cellars, sink holes, etc.as abandoned cellars, sink holes, etc. Water that has accumulated in tires or Water that has accumulated in tires or

other large containers.other large containers. Very stagnant foul water associated with Very stagnant foul water associated with

animal wastes, sewage treatment animal wastes, sewage treatment overflow.overflow.

Transient Water Mosquito Transient Water Mosquito HabitatHabitat

Container Breeding Container Breeding MosquitoesMosquitoes

Aedes albopictusAedes albopictus and some and some Culex.Culex.

Old tires or tire dumps, containers of Old tires or tire dumps, containers of any type in dumps, industrial areas, any type in dumps, industrial areas, backyards.backyards.

Birdbaths, flower pot containers, Birdbaths, flower pot containers, abandoned swimming pools or kiddy abandoned swimming pools or kiddy pools, pet water dishes, water gardens pools, pet water dishes, water gardens without good water flow. without good water flow.

Aedes albopictusAedes albopictus Eggs in Eggs in ContainerContainer

Efficient container Efficient container breeder utilizing breeder utilizing available sources.available sources.

Eggs laid on Eggs laid on surface of water, surface of water, on sides of on sides of container, and on container, and on stick.stick.

Immediate egg Immediate egg hatch of some hatch of some eggs, delayed eggs, delayed hatch for others.hatch for others.

Aedes albopictusAedes albopictus Eggs Eggs

How Do You Survey How Do You Survey For Adult For Adult

Mosquitoes?Mosquitoes?

CDC Miniature Light CDC Miniature Light TrapTrap

Developed by Developed by CDC for portable CDC for portable collection of collection of mosquitoes and mosquitoes and sand flies.sand flies.

Standard survey Standard survey tool for mosquito tool for mosquito collections.collections.

Operates on 6 Operates on 6 volts.volts.

AttractantsAttractants COCO22 is the standard is the standard

attractant for attractant for mosquitoes. mosquitoes.

Increases trap Increases trap collections.collections.

200ml/min is 200ml/min is average release average release rate.rate.

COCO22 plus Octenol plus Octenol increases trap catch increases trap catch for some species.for some species.

CDC Gravid TrapCDC Gravid Trap Designed to catch Designed to catch

gravid gravid CulexCulex females.females.

Females are Females are attracted to the attracted to the hay infusion as an hay infusion as an oviposition site.oviposition site.

May be used for May be used for virus detection.virus detection.

Operates on 6 Operates on 6 volts.volts.

New Standard Miniature New Standard Miniature Light TrapLight Trap

Incandescent Incandescent Trap.Trap.

New design New design reflects light down reflects light down like a street light. like a street light.

Emits 75% more Emits 75% more light than other light than other incandescent incandescent traps with traps with maximal air flow.maximal air flow.

Operates on 6 Operates on 6 volts.volts.

New Standard Miniature New Standard Miniature Light TrapLight Trap

Blacklight Trap.Blacklight Trap. Internal super Internal super

efficient transistor efficient transistor ballast drives 4 ballast drives 4 watt blue watt blue blacklight tube.blacklight tube.

Operates on 6 Operates on 6 volts.volts.

UV light may UV light may increase trap increase trap catches of some catches of some species.species.

New Standard New Standard Miniature Light TrapMiniature Light Trap

BlacklightIncandescent Light

New Standard Mini Light New Standard Mini Light Trap,Trap,

Options:Options: Photo-cell Photo-cell

released CO2 released CO2 option.option.

Allows release Allows release of CO2 when of CO2 when photo switch photo switch turns on light.turns on light.

Omni-Directional Fay-Omni-Directional Fay-Prince TrapPrince Trap

Daytime trap, no Daytime trap, no light source.light source.

CollectCollect Aedes Aedes albopictus, albopictus, Aedes aegypti.Aedes aegypti.

Utilizes Utilizes contrasting contrasting black/white black/white colors with COcolors with CO22 to attract to attract mosquitoes.mosquitoes.

Updraft Blacklight Updraft Blacklight TrapTrap

Proven effective Proven effective for collection of for collection of AnophelesAnopheles mosquitoes in mosquitoes in central central America.America.

Requires 12 Requires 12 Volts DC Volts DC operation.operation.

New Jersey Light TrapNew Jersey Light Trap

Typically Typically mounted in a mounted in a permanent permanent position for position for mosquito mosquito collection.collection.

25 watt bulb.25 watt bulb. Requires 110 V Requires 110 V

AC operation.AC operation.

For Further InformationFor Further Information

Presentations may be accessed Presentations may be accessed online at online at entoplp.okstate.eduentoplp.okstate.edu

Click on Mosquitoes/WNVClick on Mosquitoes/WNV E-mail for Dr. Wright at E-mail for Dr. Wright at

rew0675@okstate.edurew0675@okstate.edu