Habitat preference of host-seeking Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) in relation to birds and eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in New Jersey

Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) has been implicated as a bridge vector o f eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in North America. Eastern equine e ncephalomyelitis virus epizootics occur regularly in wild birds in New Jers ey with little or no involvement of susceptible dead end hosts even though high populations of Cq. perturbans are present. Several factors may limit e astern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus transfer from birds to mosquito bridge vectors like Cq. perturbans (Walker), including bird/mosquito densi ty, differences in bird/mosquito habitat preference, mosquito host preferen ce, mosquito host-seeking behavior and mosquito avoidance behavior by birds . Our investigations focused on the host-seeking activities of Cq. perturba ns at Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County, New Jersey. We first examined the abundance of host-seeking Cq. perturbans at a height of 1.0 m in each of three habitats: forest, open field and marsh. We collec ted significantly more mosquitoes in the forest as compared to the marsh. F orest and field collections did not differ significantly from one another n or did field and marsh. Second, we examined the temporal and vertical distr ibution of host-seeking Cq. perturbans in a sylvan habitat at three heights (1.0, 2.5, and 6.0 m) from dusk to dawn. We found that Cq. pet-turbans did significantly more host-seeking during the night period than either the ev ening or morning. Host-seeking mosquitoes also tended to stay near the grou nd and at no time did they ascend into the forest canopy. Host-seeking Cq. perturbans and their apparent spatial disparity to roosting/nesting birds a re discussed as a possible barrier to the transmission of EEE virus in New Jersey.