A social and ecological approach to mosquito species distribution across land use in Bangor, Maine

Ecological (e.g. habitat availability) and social (e.g., management of standing water) dynamics drive mosquito abundance and species distribution, determining human exposure risk to mosquitoes. Interactions between ecological and social risk factors for mosquito distribution in the Northeast US remain understudied, as cases of mosquito-borne disease rise. This research assessed environmental and human dimensions of mosquito distribution and resident mosquito exposure risk across land use zones in Bangor, Maine, an emerging area of MBD transmission. Thirty households were recruited from urban, low-density and rural residential property zoning categories. To describe mosquito distribution across the land use categories, we trapped adult mosquitoes and identified juvenile mosquito habitat at participant properties from June – August 2021. To understand human knowledge driving behaviors surrounding mosquitoes, property-owner participants completed a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices survey in September 2021. Mosquito abundance peaked during the weeks of June 28^th and July 19^th. The highest number of mosquitoes were collected on properties in rural residential zones, followed by properties in urban residential zones. The lowest number of mosquitoes were collected on properties in the low-density zone. However, proportions of vector and artificial container breeding species were highest on properties in the urban residential zoning category. We did not identify a relationship between survey results assessing participant knowledge and the amount of artificial juvenile mosquito habitat identified on properties. By integrating ecological and human dimensions of mosquito exposure risk, we have defined mosquito distribution across land use to inform mosquito control efforts in Bangor.