Biology

Margaret Wojan, mwojan@mail.snu.edu
Southern Nazarene University, with Dr. Caio França

Host-Feeding Behavior of Mosquitoes in Central Oklahoma
There is limited knowledge about the feeding habits of mosquito vectors of arboviruses in central Oklahoma. This study aimed to identify blood meal sources of mosquitoes collected in the Oklahoma City area to better understand potential transmission dynamics among vertebrate hosts. Blood meals from 59 mosquitoes across eight species and four genera were analyzed using PCR assays targeting the 12S rRNA gene. Amplificons 215-bp long successfully amplified from 29 individuals were Sanger sequenced with raw reads visualized and trimmed in Geneious and taxonomically identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The results showed that Aedes’ species fed primarily on mammals, including Odocoileus hemionus (white tail deer) and occasionally feeding on passerine birds (i.e. Quiscalus quiscula, common grackle). Meanwhile, the Psorophora genus showed species-dependent preferences as Ps. ferox preferred mammals like Sylvilagus aquaticus (swamp rabbit) and Ps. columbiae passerine birds. In contrast, Culex species, particularly Cx. tarsalis fed on a broader range of hosts, including Sciurus niger (fox squirrels), Cardinalis cardinalis (northern cardinal) and the common grackle. These findings suggest that while some mosquito species are primarily ornithophilic, others are generalists in their feeding behavior particularly Cx. tarsalis. These feeding behaviors support our understanding that some species can be infected by arboviruses yet are not competent vectors, while others like Cx. tarsalis and Cx. pipiens complex act as bridge vectors between birds and mammals. These findings can be useful to improve our understanding of enzootic transmission cycles of arboviruses in Oklahoma. 
 

Otis Woolfolk, otis.woolfolk@ucf.edu
University of Central Florida, with Dr. Linda Walters

Camera Trap Comparison: How Shoreline Restoration Affects Vertebrate Foraging Behavior and Abundance
 

Aydin Read, aydinread@gmail.com
Southern Nazarene University, with Dr. Caio França

The Effects of Sociological Determinants on Mosquito Abundance and West Nile Virus Positivity in Oklahoma City
West Nile Virus (WNV) is the most common mosquito-transmitted virus in the US. A small percentage of cases result in neuroinvasion, necessitating immediate medical attention. Current methods prevent WNV spread through vector reduction. However, these resources are limited by localized effects and high maintenance costs. To increase effectiveness, identifying areas of high risk enables targeted insecticide treatment, which reduces mosquito abundance and prevents infection.

Given the mosquitoes' peridomestic nature, we hypothesize that sociological factors impact mosquito abundance. Our study aims to collect all impactful United States Census Bureau survey variables, focusing on population, housing, education, and income at the census tract level. These variables were correlated against the same seven years of mosquito capture data and two years of WNV screening results to measure impact on mosquito abundance and WNV positivity.

This study provides a basis for current untested factors in Oklahoma for measuring WNV risk. We aim to provide future data and reasoning for a larger project, enabling targeted mosquito treatment and disease mitigation procedures through the Oklahoma City County Health Department without the need for the current intensive WNV screening methods.