Location: Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research
Title: Continuing the role of the citizen scientist: larval and pupal collections for National Mosquito Distribution SurveysAuthor
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Cohnstaedt, Lee |
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TSECOURAS, JULIE - University Of California |
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WALTON, WILLIAM - University Of California |
Submitted to: The American Biology Teacher
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2021 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: This lesson extends the lessons started by the Invasive Mosquito Project (IMP), an international citizen science-based mosquito surveillance program exploring mosquitoes and the pathogens they may transmit to community members (students, teachers, or interested individuals) and their companion animals. This lesson plan focuses on the collection of mosquito larvae and pupae in the spring with a focus on insect development and raising the collected insects to adults. The lesson teaches the (1) collection of the larval and pupal stages around the home/school, (2) observation of the mosquito life cycle by rearing the immature stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) safely to adults, and (3) important background information on mosquito biology and pathogens mosquitoes can transmit. This lesson provides a hands-on tutorial for building a sealed rearing chamber for students to safely raise mosquitoes. This lesson further focuses on (1) how individuals must play an active role in protecting their communities and pets from illness; (2) increasing awareness to the dangerous pathogens mosquitoes can transmit; and (3) the importance of mosquito management. Materials from this lesson plan (available at http://www.citizenscience.us) can be adapted for each classroom, but are best suited for middle school to high school classes, as well as Advanced Placement classes. Technical Abstract: This lesson works with the tools developed by the Invasive Mosquito Project (IMP), an international citizen science-based mosquito surveillance program exploring mosquitoes and the pathogens they may transmit to community members (students, teachers, or interested individuals) and their companion animals. This plan is a stand-alone or follow-on lesson plan to the first lesson plan developed in 2016 which focused on the collection of mosquito eggs prior to the onset of winter. This lesson plan focuses on the collection of mosquito larvae and pupae in the spring with a focus on insect development. Students will observe the immature mosquito stages grow and metamorphose into adults. The novel aspects of this lesson plan are: (1) collection of the larval and pupal stages around the home/school, (2) observation of the mosquito life cycle by rearing the immature stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) safely to adults, and (3) important background information on mosquito biology and pathogens mosquitoes can transmit. This lesson provides a hands-on tutorial for building a sealed rearing chamber for students to safely raise mosquitoes. Long-term data sets also can be used by teachers and students for further classroom discussions on the risks of mosquito-borne illnesses nationwide. This lesson further focuses on (1) how individuals must play an active role in protecting their communities and pets from illness; (2) increasing awareness to the dangerous pathogens mosquitoes can transmit; and (3) the importance of mosquito management. Materials from this lesson plan (available at http://www.citizenscience.us) can be adapted for each classroom, but are best suited for middle school to high school classes, as well as Advanced Placement classes. |