Analysis of invasive Aedes japonicus populations and bloodmeals in rural, suburban, and urban land-use conditions

Adult female mosquitoes were collected at six sites with differing land-use and livestock characteristics to characterize populations and bloodmeal habits of the invasive vector mosquito species, Aedes japonicus in Southern Maine. Mosquitoes were collected and DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of cytochrome C oxidase I (COi) mitochondrial DNA for barcoding analysis of vertebrate bloodmeals. A total of 7460 adult female mosquitoes were collected, with 444 being Ae. japonicus (5.6%). This indicates an established breeding population of Ae. japonicus in Southern Maine. The rural site adjacent to livestock had the highest yield of total mosquitoes as well as the catch rate (indiv./day) for both total female mosquitoes and Ae. japonicus. Following PCR amplification, 192 samples resulted in sequence alignments. Hits from Mammalia, Amphibia, Actinopterygii, Aves, and Reptilia were identified, with the most abundant taxa belonging to Mammalia and Amphibia. Avian bloodmeals were identified, including a sample with a high likelihood of identity as Gallus gallus (Domestic chicken). Bloodmeal information is important for characterizing the zoonotic epidemiology of invasive vector mosquito species such as Ae. japonicus