Temperature-driven population abundance model for Culex pipiens and Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

We develop a temperature-driven abundance model for West Nile virus (WNV) vector species, Culex pipiens and Culex restuans. Temperature-dependent response functions for mosquito development, mortality, and diapause were formulated based on results from available laboratory and field studies. Numerical results compared to observed mosquito trap counts from 2004–2016 demonstrate the ability of our model to predict the observed trend of the mosquito population over a single season in the Peel Region, Ontario. The model has potential to be used as a real-time mosquito abundance forecasting tool with applications in mosquito control programs.