Habitat and microclimate affect the resting site selection of mosquitoes

Abstract

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) use certain resting sites during their inactive phase. The microclimatic conditions of these resting sites might affect their physiology and vectorial capacity. In this study, we combined a field and a laboratory study to investigate the natural resting site and temperature preferences of mosquitoes. The field study was conducted at a forest close to Oldenburg (Lower Saxony, Germany) from May to October 2018. Mosquitoes were collected in five different natural habitats with seven replicates each. Temperature was recorded hourly at each site. Significantly more mosquitoes were collected in deadwood (predominantly Culiseta morsitans/fumipennis) and shaded herb layer (predominantly Aedes species) compared to unshaded herb layer or broadleaf and coniferous trees. GLMMs revealed resting site habitats as the best predictor to explain the observed preference patterns, but microclimatic conditions are also involved in mosquito resting site selection. Most mosquitoes were collected at resting sites with relatively colder and more stable temperatures. In concert, laboratory choice experiments with a thermal gradient ring demonstrated that Cs. morsitans/fumipennis avoid temperatures over 30 °C. Understanding the small‐scaled resting site preferences and the related microclimatic conditions can improve mosquito collection techniques and refine the prediction of mosquito‐borne pathogen transmission.

Artificial resting sites: An alternative sampling method for adult mosquitoes

“…Resting sites of three sizes (0.4, 76 and 162 L) were attached to one coniferous and one deciduous tree at three heights (0, 1.5, 4.5 m). Vector graphics for vegetation structures from pixabay.com (Paaijmans & Thomas, 2011;Sauer et al, 2021). Following previous studies (Komar et al, 1995;Morris, 1981;Ritchie et al, 2013), we hypothesize that the number of specimens will increase with size and decreasing height level of the artificial resting sites, because larger resting sites might be better recognized by mosquitoes, and resting sites on the ground are less exposed to harsh climatic conditions (Bidlingmayer, 1971;Edman et al, 1968;Service, 1980).…”

“…These are known to provide different environmental conditions, for example, microclimate or light regime (Irmak et al, 2018). Although the exact relationship of these factors is mostly unknown, various studies highlight their relevance for the resting site selection of mosquitoes (Paaijmans & Thomas, 2011; Sauer et al, 2021). Following previous studies (Komar et al, 1995; Morris, 1981; Ritchie et al, 2013), we hypothesize that the number of specimens will increase with size and decreasing height level of the artificial resting sites, because larger resting sites might be better recognized by mosquitoes, and resting sites on the ground are less exposed to harsh climatic conditions (Bidlingmayer, 1971; Edman et al, 1968; Service, 1980).…”

Where to overwinter: burrows of medium‐sized carnivores as winter places for invertebrates in temperate environment

“…Adult mosquito (family: Culicidae) females are best known as a synanthropic taxon dwelling in cellars and other moist and secluded anthropogenic places, such as bunkers and underground elements of human architecture (Becker et al, 2010). The natural resting sites of mosquitoes during the growing season are quite well recognised (Burkett-Cadena et al, 2008;Sauer et al, 2021); however, data about their use of natural shelters such as burrows is marginal. Most likely because the method and time of collecting the material made it impossible to catch mosquitoes (Mašán & Stanko, 2005;Krawczyk et al, 2015;Celebias et al, 2019).…”

Temporal Correlation Between Urban Microclimate, Vector Mosquito Abundance, and Dengue Cases

“…The distribution of mosquitoes is correlated with the flight range of the adult Ae. aegypti female, from 10 to 600 m ( Reiter et al 1995 , Getis et al 2003 , Liew & Curtis 2004 , Harrington et al 2005 , Russell et al 2005 , Maciel de Freitas and Lourenco de Oliviera 2009 ), and the availability of a suitable habitat for breeding ( Brown et al 2017 ) and rest ( Sauer et al 2021 ). In nature, mosquitoes respond to environmental variation at the micro-level ( Potter et al 2013 , Pincebourde et al 2016 , Murdock et al 2017 , Sauer et al 2021 ).…”

“…aegypti female, from 10 to 600 m ( Reiter et al 1995 , Getis et al 2003 , Liew & Curtis 2004 , Harrington et al 2005 , Russell et al 2005 , Maciel de Freitas and Lourenco de Oliviera 2009 ), and the availability of a suitable habitat for breeding ( Brown et al 2017 ) and rest ( Sauer et al 2021 ). In nature, mosquitoes respond to environmental variation at the micro-level ( Potter et al 2013 , Pincebourde et al 2016 , Murdock et al 2017 , Sauer et al 2021 ). In the urban area, the microclimate at different regions varies according to level of infrastructure (density of housing and man-made structure), waste heat, number of and distance to accumulations of standing water, and vegetation cover ( Baruah and Rai 2000 , Nagao et al 2003 , Afrane et al 2006 , 2008 ; Kamdem et al 2012 , Cator et al 2013 , Townroe and Callaghan 2014 , Larsen 2015 , Kumar et al 2018 ).…”