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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367006
Research Project: Management of Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Species complex of mosquitos captured by mechanical traps and an equine host

Author
item CAMPBELL, CLINTON - University Of Florida
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry
item TENBROECK, SAUNDRA - University Of Florida

Submitted to: International Journal of Veterinary Science and Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2021
Publication Date: 12/13/2021
Citation: Campbell, C.B., Kline, D.L., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Tenbroeck, S.H. 2021. Species complex of mosquitos captured by mechanical traps and an equine host. International Journal of Veterinary Science and Research. 7(2):169-177. https://doi.org/10.17352/ijvsr.000097.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17352/ijvsr.000097

Interpretive Summary: Studies were conducted to determine if commercial traps capture mosquitoes suspected of transmitting West Nile Virus (WNV) vectors. Trapped mosquitoes were compared with mosquitoes vacuumed from a nearby horse to see if the horse and the traps captured similar species. In summer, WNV vectors Culex nigripalpus and Mansonia titillans were trapped and vacuumed from the horse. In spring, Culex salinarius, Culex erraticus, and Anopheles crucians were trapped but the horse attracted fewer Culex erraticus and more Mansonia titillans which traps failed to catch. Thus, traps may give horses protection from some suspected WNV species, but not from others (Mansonia titillans).

Technical Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) can be transmitted to horses through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Companies selling mosquito traps claim their traps protect horses from mosquitoes, but these claims have rarely been verified. Scientists at the USDA-CMAVE, working cooperatively with University of Florida scientists, compared 4 commercial traps to determine if WNV vectors are being captured. Subsequently the traps were compared with a horse to determine if captured species are similar to those attracted by horses. Traps caught the highest percentages of Culex nigripalpus, but Mansonia titillans, Cx. nigripalpus, and Aedes infirmatus were the species captured in the highest percentages from the horse. Traps captured < 5% of these species. If used around horses in the best locations and in sufficient numbers, traps may provide horses some relief from Cx. nigripalpus, but not from Ma. titillans whose significance as a WNV vextor has yet been determined.