Frog Fondness: Bloodfeeding Patterns of Neoculex Mosquitoes
Poster Number
23
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Tara Thiemann
Faculty Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract/Artist Statement
Mosquito collection is an integral part of monitoring disease prevalence. Most standard trapping devices to capture mosquitoes utilize light sources or CO2 baited traps to capture hostseeking mosquitoes. Some species, however, are not attracted to these collection methods. In Lake County, California, three of these species exist as a part of the Neoculex group. A collective 228 mosquito samples, each belonging to one of three Neoculex species: Culex apicalis, Culex boharti, or Culex territans, were collected with a vacuum aspirator by the Lake County Vector Control District in 2014-2015. Following DNA extraction, a nested polymerase chain reaction was completed to amplify a 658 base pair region of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I. The sequenced DNA were utilized to identify its respective source species. The results demonstrate a strong preference in feeding patterns for Pseudacris sierra, colloquially known as the Sierran Tree Frog. The feeding preference observed in this study can be exploited to create a more effective collection method for future detection efforts by utilizing frog calls and positive phonotaxis to capture these species for future monitoring efforts – which is critical since Culex apicalis has been detected carrying West Nile virus, and is capable of carrying malaria.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Start Date
30-4-2016 1:30 AM
End Date
30-4-2016 3:30 PM
Frog Fondness: Bloodfeeding Patterns of Neoculex Mosquitoes
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Mosquito collection is an integral part of monitoring disease prevalence. Most standard trapping devices to capture mosquitoes utilize light sources or CO2 baited traps to capture hostseeking mosquitoes. Some species, however, are not attracted to these collection methods. In Lake County, California, three of these species exist as a part of the Neoculex group. A collective 228 mosquito samples, each belonging to one of three Neoculex species: Culex apicalis, Culex boharti, or Culex territans, were collected with a vacuum aspirator by the Lake County Vector Control District in 2014-2015. Following DNA extraction, a nested polymerase chain reaction was completed to amplify a 658 base pair region of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I. The sequenced DNA were utilized to identify its respective source species. The results demonstrate a strong preference in feeding patterns for Pseudacris sierra, colloquially known as the Sierran Tree Frog. The feeding preference observed in this study can be exploited to create a more effective collection method for future detection efforts by utilizing frog calls and positive phonotaxis to capture these species for future monitoring efforts – which is critical since Culex apicalis has been detected carrying West Nile virus, and is capable of carrying malaria.