Medical Entomology

WOTY_40

Mosquito populations (as collected in New Jersey Light Traps) are shown for the state of Iowa in 2005 and 2006. These traps attract mosquitoes drawn to light, and so measure the number of mosquitoes (male and female) that are active from dusk-dawn. The mosquitoes shown are generally pest species (Aedes species, left axis) or disease carrying species (Culex species, right axis). Traps run in 12 counties in the state, each of which has 2-5 traps. In order to plot results in a manner that facilitates comparison, the total number of mosquitoes trapped throughout the state is divided by the number of traps running x number of nights during which traps ran. We have finished with collections from New Jersey Light traps for the 2006 mosquito season. From the final week of trapping, which was quite warm, we see an increase in mosquito numbers—particularly in Aedes vexans. Since then, we have experienced some very cold days that likely have put an end to mosquito activity until next spring.