Abstract
Mosquito feeding patterns identify vertebrate species potentially involved in the amplification of West Nile virus. In New York, northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) were the predominant hosts in most habitats. Crow (Corvus sp.) blood meals were most frequently identified from sewage treatment plant and storm water catch basin habitats.
Highlights
Restuans mosquitoes collected by mosquito surveillance programs in 2001 and 2002 in Nassau (89 identified/100 tested), Orange (66/87), Rockland (83/96), and Westchester (20/20) counties and in 2005 and 2006 in Tompkins County (46/52) [1]
American robin blood meals accounted for only 12% of the blood meals and were found only in parks, preserves, and residential and storm water catch basins habitats
The percentage of northern cardinal and American robin blood meals was relatively constant throughout the summer (p = 0.261, Fisher exact test) (Table)
Summary
Restuans mosquitoes collected by mosquito surveillance programs in 2001 and 2002 in Nassau (89 identified/100 tested), Orange (66/87), Rockland (83/96), and Westchester (20/20) counties and in 2005 and 2006 in Tompkins County (46/52) [1]. We identified host species in 183 Cx. pipiens and 119 Cx. restuans (online Appendix Table, available from www.cdc.gov/EID/content/13/12/1921-appT.htm). Cx. pipiens fed on birds (n = 171, 92.9% of Cx. pipiens blood meals), mammals (n = 12, 6.5%), and a northern brown snake
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