Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2018
Abstract
Mosquitoes are associated with the spread of diseases such as Zika and West Nile viruses. Government and health officials recommend the elimination of standing water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes that carry these viruses. Previous research has shown that rainwater harvesting (RWH) can create a source of standing water that could potentially harbor mosquitoes and their larvae. As RWH is an important tool for conserving potable water and mitigating stormwater runoff, it is important to determine if these systems are contributing to the proliferation of mosquitoes. This project investigates the prevalence and relative abundance of mosquitoes in the storage tanks of RWH systems throughout North Carolina and Virginia, as well as, the environmental and system conditions that can contribute to .their presences in these systems. Samples have been collected and analyzed for the presence and quantity of mosquito pupae and larvae. Captured mosquitoes were identified using taxonomic keys and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results will be used to make design and maintenance recommendations to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in RWH systems.
Recommended Citation
Dobyns, Kaitlyn; Gage, Kyrsten; and Gee, Kathy D., "Investigating the Occurrence and Relative Abundance of Mosquitoes Associated with Rainwater Harvesting Systems" (2018). Spring Presentation of Undergraduate Research. 8.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/spur/8
