What’s biting you? An entomologic survey of mosquito fauna in the South Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains

Mosquitos transmit pathogens of medical importance, and account for over 700 million infections annually. Entomologic surveys can provide detailed insight on invasive species, geographic shifts of native species, and enhanced clinical knowledge for timely diagnosis of acute febrile illness etiology. Our team performed an expanded survey in summer 2020 at collaborating state parks in the upstate region of South Carolina. Using CDC miniature light traps, BG-2 Sentinel traps, and tree-hole larval mosquito collection methods, we collected over 550 distinct mosquitoes identified in nine genera and 21 different species. Most notably, several important vector species were collected: Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, Anophoeles puncitpennis, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Coquillettidia perturbans, Culiseta melanura, Culex pipiens, and Culex quiquefasciatus. Our findings describe a diverse mosquito fauna in the Blue Ridge Mountain Ridge, that warrants expanded public health testing.