Literature Review of Aedes Vexans

Vector:

The disease agent for our unknown pathogen has been identified as Staphylococcus

haimaphagein, a new species of Staphylococcus bacterium. This bacterium is responsible for

many common infections such as skin infections, pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome and even

blood poisoning. Although almost any organ can be infected by this pathogen, it usually infects

the skin first. However, given enough time, the bacteria can reach the bloodstream; once this

occurs, the bacteria can spread to different body sites, resulting in either severe harm or a fatality.

The vector for this disease agent has been identified as Aedes vexans, commonly known as the

inland floodwater mosquito. Aedes vexans is both a cosmopolitan and common pest mosquito; it

is found in many distinct locations all around the world, including but not limited to most of

North America, South America, Africa, and Europe. Although rather annoying to most of the

people who live in its broad distribution range because of its vicious biting habits, Aedes vexans

has been recognized as a very important pest mosquito to study and document due to its indoor

feeding habits (Horsfall, 1954). In particular, it is very abundant across North America due to its

tendency to migrate long distances and ability to occupy many different types of habitats. The

population density of Aedes vexans in the numerous regions around the United States in which it

resides is extremely high as well, making it one of the most common species of mosquito native

to North America (Andreadis, 2004). The adult females are medium sized with a dark proboscis

and banded hind tarsomeres, with the distinguishing feature being its basal bale bands on its

abdominal terga. Each tergum has multiple B shape markings, which help to serve as an

efficient way to help identify if a mosquito specimen is in fact Aedes vexans. The short brown
scales on its scutum can also serve as another acceptable method of identification. Aedes vexans

tend to reside near stagnant water pools and aquatic habitats where water levels fluctuate to

breed and hunt in the most efficient manner possible (OMalley, 1990). Aquatic areas (such as

marshes, temporary pools, small bodies of water, irrigation fields, and even puddles) are essential

for the females of this species in particular, as without these conditions, they would be unable to

breed. Females tend to lay their eggs individually on moist soil above the waterline to achieve

dry the eggs to an appropriate degree. (Weissmann, 2016). After the brief period of drying has

ended, the eggs must then become fully submerged in water in order to hatch. According to

Weissmann, adult Aedes vexans emerge in the middle of May, but do not begin to cause issues

for humans and other mammals until the beginning of June. Aedes vexans continue to increase in

numbers until around the beginning of October, or until the warm autumn temperatures begin to

fall as winter draws closer. As the temperature continues to cool, Aedes vexans begin to swarm,

especially in the evening after sunset due to their night biting habits. Additionally, around this

time of the year, Aedes vexans will tend to travel far distances (approximately fifteen miles)

away from their aquatic breeding grounds in order to find blood meals from various types of

mammals (Molaei, 2006). However, in the absence of a blood meal, Aedes vexans will also use

sugary liquids like nectar, honeydew, and sap for sustenance. Although these alternate food

sources can be useful in times of low mammalian activity, they are certainly not preferred, as

protein blood meals provide much more energy and nutrients that are essential for Aedes vexans

to thrive and reproduce. Along with its aggressive mammalian and human biting behavior,

Aedes vexans must receive strong consideration as a bridge vector to humans and horses as well

(Andreadis, 2004). This species of mosquito has also been shown to play a role in some
important enzootic disease cycles, ensuring that there are always a certain number of reservoirs

for certain types of bacteria in a population at any given time (Tiawsirisup, 2008).

Reservoir:

The preferred blood meal of Aedes vexans is the white-tailed jackrabbit, also known as

Lepus townsendii, which also serves as their primary reservoir host (Weissmann, 2017). The

white-tailed jackrabbit is commonly found throughout the United States and west-central

Canada. Members of this species tend to congregate in pastures and fields, open grasslands, and

forested areas ranging from 40 to 4300 meters in elevation. Their breeding season lasts from

February to July and peaks from March to June, around the same time Aedes vexans increases in

population, which is most likely one of the reasons for the two species parasitic relationship

with one another. The white-tailed jackrabbit is not very social, and usually only interacts with

other members of its kind during the breeding season. Their breeding season is highly variable,

and typically depends upon various longitudinal and environmental factors, such as the

temperature gradient and moisture. White-tailed jackrabbits are primarily nocturnal; they rest

during the day in shallow depressions at the bases of bushes, then emerge from their burrows at

night to eat (Jackson, 1961). This nocturnal behavior makes the white-tailed jackrabbit a perfect

blood meal for Aedes vexans, as females usually hunt during the night- at precisely the same time

the white-tailed jackrabbit is out foraging. White-tailed jack rabbits are herbivores and voracious

eaters; they feed on all diverse types of plant matter, including shrubs, grasses, forbs, winter

wheat, western wheat grass, clover, and dryland sedge. However, they fall prey to many different

types of predators, such as the red fox, grey fox, cougar, bobcat, and coyote. Badgers, hawks,
snakes, owls, eagles, have also been known to prey upon white-tailed jackrabbits as well.

Members of this species are known for serving as a highly effective reservoir for many different

types of diseases throughout America and Canada. Their widespread distribution, coupled with

their nocturnal feeding tendencies, serve as an extremely catalyst for the spreading of diseases

agents such as rhabdomyolysis and Staphylococcus haimaphagein, the proposed disease that is

being transmitted by Aedes vexans. The possibility of spreading whatever diseases they are

currently harboring begins when they invade different areas of human settlement, including

backyards, forests, and farmland- which raises the risk of contaminating farm products intended

for human consumption. Some humans also directly hunt and consume the white-tailed

jackrabbit as well, providing yet another potential pathway for the jackrabbit to infect humans

with the disease they are carrying (Gosline, 2001).

Bibliography:

Primary Sources

Aly, C. 1983: Feeding Behavior of Aedes vexans Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) and its

Influence on the Effectiveness of Bacillusthuringiensis var.israelensis. Bullentin of the Society of

Vector Ecologists, 8:85-93.

Dr. Theodore G. Andreadis, John F. Anderson, Charles R. Vossbrinck, and Andrew J.

Main. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. December 2004, 4(4): 360-378.

doi:10.1089/vbz.2004.4.360.
 Francuski, L., V. Milankov, J. Ludoki, B. Krtini, J. O. Lundstrm, G. Kemenesi, and J.

Ferenc. 2016. Genetic and phenotypic variation in central and northern European populations of

Aedes (Aedimorphus) vexans(Meigen, 1830) (Diptera, Culicidae). Journal of Vector Ecology.

41: 160171.

Molaei, G., and T. G. Andreadis. 2006. Identification of Avian- and Mammalian-Derived

Bloodmeals in Aedes vexans and Culiseta melanura (Diptera: Culicidae) and Its Implication for

West Nile Virus Transmission in Connecticut, U.S.A. Journal of Medical Entomology. 43: 1088

1093.

Tiawsirisup, S., J. R. Kinley, B. J. Tucker, R. B. Evans, W. A. Rowley, and K. B. Platt.

2008. Vector Competence of Aedes vexans (Diptera: Culicidae) for West Nile Virus and Potential

as an Enzootic Vector. Journal of Medical Entomology. 45: 452457.

Weissmann, Michael Doc. 2017. Mosquito of the Month: Aedes vexans - the Inland

Floodwater Mosquito. Vector Disease Control International.

(http://www.vdci.net/blog/author/the-vdci-team).

Secondary Sources

Horsfall, W. R.1954. A Migration of Aedes vexans Meigen. Journal of Economic

Entomology. 47: 544544.

O'Malley, C. M. 1990. Aedes vexans (Meigen): An old foe. Proc. N. J. Mosquito Control

Assoc. pp. 90-95.

Weissmann, Michael "Doc", Ph.D. "Mosquito of the Month: Aedes vexans - the Inland

Floodwater Mosquito." Vector Disease Control International. The VDCI Team, 30 June 2016.
Web.(http://www.vdci.net/blog/mosquito-of-the-month-aedes-vexans-the-inland-floodwater-

mosquito).

Jackson, H.H.T. 1961. Mammals of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, pp. 504.

Gosline, Anna (2001). "Lepus townsendii: white-tailed jackrabbit". Animal Diversity

Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 2017-04-06.

Figure 1: Aedes Vexans Figure 2: Map

of Aedes Vexans Distribution
Figure 3: Life Cycle of Aedes Vexans Figure 4: Habitats of Aedes Vexans