Differences in Mosquito Communities in Six Cities in Oklahoma.

Vector-borne diseases in the United States have recently increased as a result of the changing nature of vectors, hosts, reservoirs, pathogens, and the ecological and environmental conditions. Current information on vector habitats and how mosquito community composition varies across space and time is vital to successful vector-borne disease management. This study characterizes mosquito communities in urban areas of Oklahoma, United States, an ecologically diverse region in the southern Great Plains.

Risk of African Swine Fever Virus Sylvatic Establishment and Spillover to Domestic Swine in the United States.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a high-consequence foreign animal disease that has emerged along international trade routes. Owing to high lethality and resulting trade sanctions, establishment of this disease in the United States would have devastating economic consequences. ASFV can be transmitted by soft ticks in the genus or directly between swine, including domestic, feral, and wild swine.

Daily activity patterns of movement and refuge use in Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), vectors of the Chagas disease parasite.

Transmission risk for vector borne disease is greatest during periods of heightened vector activity. Triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), which transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, are generally considered nocturnal, but their patterns of activity in controlled settings have rarely been studied. We quantified activity patterns across a 24-hour period in nymphs of two triatomine species: (1) Triatoma gerstaeckeri Stål, a North American triatomine which is closely associated with sylvatic and peridomestic hosts, and (2) Rhodnius prolixus Stål, a Central and South American triatomine that thrives in the domestic environment.

Allometry and morphometrics of clypeal membrane size and shape in Nicrophorus (Coleoptera: Silphidae).

Contests between same-sex opponents over resources necessary for reproduction, as well interactions used to discern mate quality, often involve exaggerated traits wherein large individuals have disproportionately larger traits. This positive allometric scaling of weapons or signals facilitates communication during social interactions by accentuating body size differences between individuals. Typically, males carry these exaggerated traits, as males must compete over limited female gametes.

Sexually dimorphic body size and development time plasticity in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).

Background: Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in insects often accompanies a sexual difference in development time, sexual bimaturism (SBM).

Goal: To determine whether three mosquito species have similar plasticity in SSD, attain sexual dimorphism through similar strategies, and whether SSD and SBM are associated.

Organisms: , , and (Diptera: Culicidae).