2002 SURVEY
FOR MOSQUITOES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
In 2001, the
South Dakota Department of Health initiated a program to monitor mosquitoes
in South Dakota for the presence of the West Nile Virus. During 2001,
2,045 mosquitoes were collected from two sites (Brookings and Watertown)
in eastern South Dakota. Results from
the 2001 study are discussed in another portion of this website.
The 2002 survey is also being directed by Dr. M.B. Hildreth (Department
of Biology/Microbiology) at South Dakota State University. This survey
started out by focusing on 5 different cities (Brandon, Brookings, North
Sioux City, Watertown and Yankton) in the eastern part of the state because
the virus will likely arrive here first. Pierre was also included
in this survey because it lies along the Missouri River in the center portion
of the state. By the end of the summer, 3 additional sites
were added to the study: Oak Lake Field Station, Waubay and Huron.
One SDSU undergraduate student, Brent Leininger (Department of Biology/Microbiology),
is performing the collections and identifing the mosquitoes to the the
species level. Dr. Paul Johnson (SDSU, Department of Plant Science)
is providing comparative mosquito species from the South Dakota Entomological
Museum. Several South Dakota residents (Anthony Christenson, Randy
Geross, Peg Holmquist, Scott and Lisa Morford, Jake Taylor) have assisted
in the collection of mosquitoes. To collect mosquitoes, CDC miniture
light traps (J.W. Hock Inc., Gainesville, FL) are being used with and without
carbon-dioxide baiting, beginning on June 1 and ending on September 1,
2002. The light traps are equipped with an internal programmable
photo-switch such that the light and fan is turned on at dusk and and then
off at dawn. The traps are checked each morning and the mosquitoes
are frozen in conventional freezers (approximately -20C). During
the same week, the mosquitoes are thawed briefly, identified and then re-frozen
at -70C. Frozen mosquiotes are sent to the S.D. Department
of Health on dry ice to be tested for the presence of the virus.
Collection Sites (Satellite image provided by the USGS
EROS Data Center)
Current
data is reported with each of the linked sites listed below.
Brookings Site
Mosquito trap is located in a small grove on a acreage approximately
1 mile from the Big Sioux River. The acreage is approximately 2 miles
south of the Brookings city limits and contains a few horse and cows.
Huron Site
Trap is located in a bushy area of the South Dakota State Fairgrounds
in Huron, SD.
North Sioux City Site
Trap is located in a large residential yard (approximately 1 acre)
in a lightly populated area which is approximately 1/2 mile from the Missouri
River.
Oak Lake Field Station Site
This trap is located in a heavily wooded area at the field station
the location of this field station is described in detail at the Oak
Lake Field Station Website.
Pierre Site
Trap is located on the edge of a wooded area near a pond approximately
1/2 mile from the Missouri River.
Sioux Falls Site
Trap is located in a wooded area within the city of Sioux Falls, SD.
The site is near a small oxbow lake from the Big Sioux River.
Waubay Site
Trap is located at the wooded area by Enemy Swim Lake near Waubay,
SD.
Watertown Site
Trap is located in a lightly wooded area along the Big Sioux River
in the city of Watertown near a pond.
Yankton Site
Trap is located in North Yankton in an urban environment about 1/2
mile from the Missouri River.
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