Date of Award
4-10-2022
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Catherine Miller, PhD
Second Advisor
Darryl Currie, PhD
Third Advisor
Rachel Larsen, PhD
Abstract
Adult female mosquitoes were collected at six sites with differing land-use and
livestock characteristics to characterize populations and bloodmeal habits of the invasive
vector mosquito species, Aedes japonicus in Southern Maine. Mosquitoes were collected
and DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of cytochrome C oxidase I (COi)
mitochondrial DNA for barcoding analysis of vertebrate bloodmeals. A total of 7460
adult female mosquitoes were collected, with 444 being Ae. japonicus (5.6%). This
indicates an established breeding population of Ae. japonicus in Southern Maine. The
rural site adjacent to livestock had the highest yield of total mosquitoes as well as the
catch rate (indiv./day) for both total female mosquitoes and Ae. japonicus. Following
PCR amplification, 192 samples resulted in sequence alignments. Hits from Mammalia,
Amphibia, Actinopterygii, Aves, and Reptilia were identified, with the most abundant
taxa belonging to Mammalia and Amphibia. Avian bloodmeals were identified, including
a sample with a high likelihood of identity as Gallus gallus (Domestic chicken).
Bloodmeal information is important for characterizing the zoonotic epidemiology of
invasive vector mosquito species such as Ae. japonicus.
Recommended Citation
Oberholtzer, Matthew MS, "Analysis of invasive Aedes japonicus populations and bloodmeals in rural, suburban, and urban land-use conditions" (2022). Student Scholarship. 11.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/bio-students/11
