Presented by Jamie Mangan, M.S. at the 90th Annual American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Meeting in Dallas, TX.

Aedes notoscriptus (Diptera: Culicidae) is endemic to Australia and invasive in parts of southern California. First detected in Monterey Park, CA in 2014, it has since been detected in other cities in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Aedes notoscriptus is a competent vector for Barmah and Ross River viruses and has demonstrated susceptibility to Zika virus in a laboratory setting. To date, Ae. notoscriptus has not been implicated as a vector in the United States.

Larval habitats include cryptic natural and man-made containers, where they may compete with Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti. Larval and oviposition surveys were conducted to examine the larval ecology of Ae. notoscriptus and its relationship to other invasive Aedes species. Oviposition cups were placed at ground level, 1m, 2m, and 3m in height. Distilled and plant-infused water were compared at each height. Bamboo stumps, a frequent source of Ae. notoscriptus larvae, were used in the infusion.

We found that Ae. notoscriptus shares cryptic larval habitat with Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in natural and manmade containers and that the infused water yielded more eggs. Current recommended surveillance and control practices for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are likely to have an effect on Ae. notoscriptus, due to their overlap in larval habitat. Differences in local Ae. notoscriptus ecology and potential competition between the three species may require additional surveillance and control strategies. Continued active larval and adult surveillance combined with community science will be used to further examine Ae. notoscriptus ecology in the San Gabriel Valley.

Resources: 

Do you have a question for me or want to get in contact with me?