Pest Management Professional, May 2016

Pest Trends Potential for Aedes aegypti occurrence this summer Research funded by the National Institutes of Health NASA and the National Science Foundation used weather maps to simulate the potential seasonal abundance of adult Aedes aegypti for 50 U S cities The researchers note that the study is ongoing as the impact of El Niño weather patterns unfolds this summer Editors Note For a mosquito professionals insights on El Niño and the industry this year visit PMPPestTalk net MORE ONLINE http currents plos org outbreaks article on the seasonal occurrence and abundance of the zika virus vectormosquito aedes aegypti in the contiguous united states Culex eyed as potential Zika carriers Pest management professionals PMPs are well aware of the suspected link between the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and Zika virus Its cousin the Asian tiger mosquito A albopictus also has been implicated Now a new study in Brazil is looking at whether the southern and northern common house mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus and C pipiens respectively also can be Zika carriers At press time experts caution that the findings of replicating the virus in C quinquefasciatus in the lab in mid March are only preliminary data C pipiens has not yet been tested but is included with the C quinquefasciatus finding because it can interbreed with C quinquefasciatus in certain climate regions Source http entnemdept ufl edu creatures aquatic southern_ house_ mosquito htm Culex quinquefasciatus is already a confirmed vector of West Nile virus sponsored by The Culex study is making waves in the science community not only because Culex is more widespread than Aedes in the United States but it has radically different habits As a PBS Frontline article on the topic explains Aedes feeds during the day Culex at dawn and dusk Aedes likes fresh water Culex likes dirty water Aedes specializes in feeding on people Culex prefers birds What does this mean to PMPs Likely an even sharper focus on correctly identifying mosquito species to ensure efficient treatment and control MORE ONLINE http www pbs org wgbh frontline article a mosquito common in u s may transmit zika study finds Are you hot or not to mosquitoes The likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes could depend on our genes according to a pilot study carried out on twins by the London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine A series of trials using 18 identical and 19 non identical female twins and non twins showed that identical twin pairs were more similar in attractiveness to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes than non identical twin pairs This builds on other findings of how female mosquitoes display preferences for the smell of certain people For example pregnant women are more attractive to Anopheles gambiae the principal malaria vector in Africa than non pregnant women People with a greater body mass also appear to be more attractive to mosquitoes and midges Diet is often suggested as an explanation with anecdotes about eating garlic or drinking beer to keep mosquitoes away However there is no clear and consistent dietary explanation Still this new study could help lay the foundation for what senior author Dr James Logan sees as the future of mosquito repellency To be able to take a pill that will enhance the production of natural repellents by the body and ultimately replace skin lotions MORE ONLINE http journals plos org plosone article id 101371 journal pone 0122716 See more mosquito research online at PMPPestTalk net mypmp net Pest Management Professional May 2016 MM11 Map pLOS phOtO JIM GathaNY CDC