Seasonal Occurrence and Habitat Utilization of Exotic, Invasive Mosquitoes
Seasonal Occurrence and Habitat Utilization of Exotic, Invasive Mosquitoes
We will train volunteers to monitor the Park for mosquitoes living in water-holding containers associated with human activity (tires, cans, bowls, bottles, buckets). This program will provide data on the times of year when the mosquitoes are most abundant and how the different species utilize various containers. The results may provide some insight into potential public heath concerns. A website for the public will be developed to display photographs and natural history of each mosquito species collected from the Park.
Mosquitoes were collected from May 2006 – October 2006 by the PI and volunteers, biologists, park rangers, and interns from Purchase Knob and Tremont Institute at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Working with Paul Super and Jason Love, the volunteers and interns were provided with mosquito collection kits, instruction on how to collect all life stages of mosquitoes and mailing supplies to send specimens to the PI for identification. The PI visited the Park in July to collect mosquitoes; in December to attend the 10th Annual DLIA Meeting; and in February 2007 to work in the Park Museum with Dr. Adriean Mayor. At least eighteen mosquito species were collected, with three Park records: Ochlerotatus infirmatus, Ochlerotatus japonicus, and Orthopodomyia signifera.
