Diel activity patterns of Arizona mosquito species in urban settings

Maricopa County, Arizona, holds one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation. This urban growth and increased human influence on the desert environment have created a haven for mosquito-transmitted illnesses (e.g. West Nile Virus) to become endemic, with concern that more arboviruses may become endemic with increased mosquito-vector ranges and shifting climate. Currently, we have a good understanding of vector species dynamics and diversity across the area, but disease transmission (especially Aedes spp.-borne diseases) depends on the spatial-temporal movement of both humans and mosquitoes. The risk of contracting arboviruses needs to be studied in more detail, to better understand where and when humans get infected. To assess mosquito diel activity, 5 representative urban areas were selected wherein mosquitoes were trapped in hourly intervals using collection bottle rotators with EVS traps. Here, we report species diversity and abundance per hour, throughout the mosquito season of 2023 (April to November). This data will be compared with hourly human movement patterns to establish disease transmission risk maps, and to identify the locations and/or communities most at risk for mosquito-borne diseases throughout the Arizona mosquito season.