Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Collection Survey of Bryan/College Station, Texas.

Mosquito-borne diseases are responsible for millions of hospitalizations and deaths worldwide each year. Many species with a high vectorial capacity for diseases such as West Nile virus, yellow fever, and equine encephalitis are endemic to the southern U.S. The different mosquito species can be found in a broad spectrum of environments, ranging from nearly clean water to brackish runoff. Certain mosquito species have a preference as to where they lay their eggs, including permanent water species and temporary water species. Four different locations were sampled for the presence of mosquito larvae. Some collected larvae were preserved immediately and the rest reared out to adults before they were identified down to genus and species. Mosquitos from the genus Aedes, Culex, and Psorophora were identified, with Aedes species being the most common. Identification of the different species collected is important in order to understand the various habitats these mosquitos breed and properly develop specific control methods to reduce populations. Knowing which species are present in a particular location is also essential in identifying the different diseases that may be present; as different mosquito species are vectors for different pathogens. Knowledge of what pathogens are in an area can help raise awareness about the importance of mosquito prevention. It also informs residents what symptoms to look for if a person falls ill with a suspected mosquito-borne disease. This survey served to identify some of the common species of mosquito present in various locations in the Bryan College Station area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]