Stable isotope analysis of larval mosquito diets in agricultural wetlands in the coastal plain of Georgia, U.S.A.

Previous studies have used C and N isotope ratios to investigate the use of different food resources such as plant and animal detritus by container-breeding mosquitoes. This study is the first to report on the potential food resources assimilated by larval mosquitoes in agricultural and reference wetlands. Larval mosquitoes (Diptera: Culcidae) were sampled, along with their potential food resources, from agricultural and reference wetland habitats throughout a seasonal hydroperiod.

Nutrient enrichment affects immature mosquito abundance and species composition in field-based mesocosms in the coastal plain of Georgia.

This study is the first to examine the relationship between nutrient enrichment and oviposition preference as measured by larval mosquito abundance using field-based mesocosms adjacent to wetlands in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Georgia. Agricultural wetlands in this region are known to have higher levels of nutrients and suspended sediments compared with forested wetlands, and previous studies have shown differences in mosquito communities in agricultural and forested wetlands. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nutrient enrichment contributes to the differences in mosquito oviposition preferences as reflected by larval mosquito presence and abundance in wetlands.