Poster Display
Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology
Cassandra Durden, M.S. (she/her/hers)
PHEFA fellow
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fort Collins, Colorado
Kristina Lopez
North Shore Mosquito Abatement District
Libertyville, Illinois
Saul Lozano
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fort Collins, Colorado
Anna Drexler
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fort Collins, Colorado
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito borne flavivirus endemic to North America and the leading cause of arboviral disease, with annual outbreaks in certain geographic regions, notably the upper Midwest of the United States. In this region, two mosquito species, Culex pipiens Linnaeus and Culex restuans Theobold play key roles in WNV circulation and are considered epidemic and enzootic vectors, respectively. These species share similar ecological niches and physical characteristics, often leading to their consolidation during programmatic surveillance efforts. However; this practice complicates accurate assessment of abundances of the two species and their respective contributions to WNV transmission. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a scoping review focusing on key aspects of Cx. restuans biology, control, and links with human WNV disease. Our analysis indicates limited evidence exists supporting the role of Cx. restuans as both an enzootic and epizootic vector, and highlights disparities in existing vector surveillance and control capacity in much of the upper Midwest. Moreover, our findings underscore the need for research on the dynamics of Cx. restuans and Cx. pipiens in this region to inform more effective WNV prevention and control strategies.