Temporal and Spatial Synchrony of Culex territans (Diptera: Culicidae) with Their Amphibian Hosts

Abstract

Culex territans Walker (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae share nonpolluted freshwater habitats with amphibians, which are bloodmeal hosts of their adults. To examine synchrony of Cx. territans with amphibian species, 10 larval habitat sites were sampled weekly from March to November of 2004. Cx. territans larvae were temporally and spatially associated with the green frog, Rana clamitans Latrielle. We predicted that if the preferred hosts were abundant at low temperatures, Cx. territans might be able to digest bloodmeals at those same temperatures. Using the thermal heat summation model, 192.3 d above 3.9 degrees C were needed to complete the gonotrophic cycle. This is the lowest thermal minimum reported for a Nearctic species of mosquito. Using this model, we calculated that the first larvae of Cx. territans field collected on 6 May 2004 were the progeny of females that bloodfed during the last week of March or first week of April. We conclude that Cx. territans has physiological mechanisms that allow them to take advantage of early season bloodmeal sources.

Begging and ectoparasite attraction

“…Noirot, 1968), suggests that parasites may use age-specific begging cues to locate hosts of a certain age. Likewise, parasites may eavesdrop on nestling begging calls to synchronize their emergence, or termination of diapause, with host egg hatching (Bartlett-Healy, Crans, & Gaugler, 2008b). This would be especially adaptive for nestdwelling ectoparasites of birds, which are known to pupate or enter diapause within the nest materials or in the immediate surroundings of bird nests (e.g.…”

Mosquitoes as a potential vector for the transmission of the amphibian chytrid fungus

“…A high number of zoospores found on plates that were exposed to Bd by mosquitoes suggest that mosquitoes are a potential Bd vector, and its ability to collect and transfer Bd may have implications for its spread. As many mosquito species co-occur globally with amphibians, share similar breeding requirements in aquatic habitats and have positive associations with areas of high precipitation (Rubbo et al 2011;Bartlett-Healy, Crans, and Gaugler 2008), the potential for Bd to be transferred between hosts by mosquitoes could be high. This is further exacerbated by the fact that many mosquito species acquire multiple blood-meals during a single feeding cycle (Gillies 2016;Scott et al 1993;Muturi et al 2008), increasing the potential of local transmission between infected and non-infected individuals.…”

“…However, their ability to carry and transfer Bd has not been investigated. Like amphibians, many mosquitoes require seasonal or permanent freshwater habitats in order to breed and oviposit, which means both the host and potential vector occur over similar spatial and temporal scales (Rubbo et al 2011;Bartlett-Healy, Crans, and Gaugler 2008). Mosquitoes serve as amphibian prey, and adult female mosquitoes require blood-meals to produce eggs, with some species specifically targeting amphibian hosts (Heatwole and Shine 1976;Means 1968).…”

Mosquitoes as a Potential Vector for the Transmission of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus

“…The high number of zoospores found on plates that were exposed to Bd by mosquitoes suggest that mosquitoes are a potential Bd vector, and its ability to collect and transfer Bd may have implications for its spread. As many mosquito species co-occur globally with amphibians, share similar breeding requirements in aquatic habitats and have positive associations with areas of high precipitation (Rubbo et al 2011;Bartlett-Healy, Crans, and Gaugler 2008), the potential for Bd to be transferred between hosts by mosquitoes could be high. This is further exacerbated by the fact that many mosquito species acquire multiple blood-meals during a single feeding cycle (Gillies 2016;Scott et al 1993;Muturi et al 2008), increasing the potential of local transmission between infected and non-infected individuals.…”

“…Like amphibians, many mosquitoes require seasonal or permanent freshwater habitats in order to breed and oviposit, which means both the host and potential vector occur over similar spatial and temporal scales (Rubbo et al 2011;Bartlett-Healy, Crans, and Gaugler 2008). Mosquitoes serve as amphibian prey and adult female mosquitoes require blood-meals to produce eggs, with some species specifically targeting amphibian hosts (Heatwole and Shine 1976;Means 1968).…”