Discovery of a bromeliad-inhabiting Culex (micraedes) sp. in south Florida.

Immatures of a Culex (Micraedes) sp. were collected from bromeliads at 6 sites in Dade County, FL. This discovery represents the first time a member of this subgenus has been detected in the continental United States. The Cx (Micraedes) sp. was found in both native and exotic bromeliads, and at some sites this Culex occurred in these plants as frequently as Wyeomyia spp.

Colonization of rock holes by Aedes albopictus in the southeastern United States.

Aedes albopictus was collected from water-holding rock holes along 3 streams in Georgia and 1 in South Carolina. To compare the occurrence of Ae. albopictus and Aedes atropalpus, rock holes were sampled for immature Aedes at 2 sites where there were numerous rock holes harboring mosquitoes. At 1 of these sites, tree holes and various types of artificial containers were also sampled for immature Aedes. At both sites, immature Ae. albopictus occurred in rock holes much less frequently than the rock-pool specialist, Aedes atropalpus. Moreover, the distribution of Ae. albopictus was limited to rock holes in less flood prone locations, whereas Ae. atropalpus was often a common mosquito even in rock holes that were among the most susceptible to flooding by rising stream levels. By contrast. Ae. albopictus was frequently found in the samples from tree holes and artificial containers. Thus, it appears that riverine rock holes that are flooded frequently may be, at best, marginal habitats for Ae. albopictus.

Spread of Aedes albopictus and decline of Ae. aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Florida.

Waste tires and other types of artificial containers were sampled for immature Aedes to monitor changes in the occurrence of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Florida. The initial invasion and spread of Ae. albopictus in Florida occurred in the northern part of Florida. Throughout this region, major declines in the abundance of Ae. aegypti have been associated with the expansion of Ae. albopictus in both urban and rural areas. Generally, the same results have occurred in central Florida, but at some urban locations Ae. aegypti has remained a common mosquito long after the arrival of Ae. albopictus. In southeastern Florida, Ae. aegypti is currently the dominant container-inhabiting Aedes in urban areas, whereas sites dominated by Ae. albopictus are in rural settings or in undeveloped tracts of land within urban or suburban areas. At some locations, immature Ae. albopictus were found in the same containers with another exotic mosquito, Ae. bahamensis Berlin. The persistence of thriving Ae. aegypti populations in urban areas of southern Florida indicates that Ae. albopictus might not become the dominant container Aedes in these habitats, at least not to the extent that it has in the northern part of the state.

Reduced mosquito production in cemetery vases with copper liners.

Water-holding stone vases were sampled in 4 central Florida cemeteries to compare the prevalence of mosquitoes in containers with and without metallic liners. Overall, immature mosquitoes were found in more than 60% of the vases lacking liners and in more than 50% of the vases with aluminum liners. Significantly fewer vases with copper liners were positive for mosquitoes. High mortality and a lack of development were observed in a field test involving the introduction of Aedes aegypti larvae into stone vases with copper liners.

Invasion of cemeteries in Florida by Aedes albopictus.

Aedes albopictus has been found in 53 of the 67 Florida counties. The initial discoveries in 11 of these counties were made in cemeteries. At several locations, Ae. albopictus became well-established in cemeteries before appearing in nearby accumulations of waste tires. The recycling of plastic floral baskets may be aiding the spread of Ae. albopictus. Mosquitoes were commonly found in all types of flower-holding containers in cemeteries, except bronze vases. In the laboratory, most Aedes aegypti eggs laid in bronze vases hatched, but larvae subsequently died. The spread of Ae. albopictus in cemeteries seems to occur at the expense of Ae. aegypti populations. At one cemetery immature Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti were found in about 70% of the Aedes-positive containers at the start of a monitoring program. In subsequent collections from this site, Ae. albopictus was found in nearly all Aedes-positive containers, whereas there was a progressive decrease in containers with Ae. aegypti. This trend did not appear to be the result of any seasonal pattern because in a nearby cemetery where Ae. albopictus was absent, Ae. aegypti did not show a similar decline. Limiting flower-holding containers to those with drain holes or to bronze vases would greatly limit mosquito production.