HISTORY OF MOSQUITO SURVEYS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
HISTORY OF RECENT SURVEYS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Late 1900's
From Dr. Mike Catangui's Website
South Dakota Mosquitoes and their Control (by Dr. Richard W. Gerhardt)


2001
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 the first year (2001), a pilot survey was conducted at four sites (Brandon, Brookings, Castlewood, and Watertown) in eastern South Dakota under the direction of Drs. M.B. Hildreth (Department of Biology/Microbiology) and M.A. Catangui (Department of Plant Science) at South Dakota State University.  Two SDSU undergraduate students, Jeff Nolz and Kayla Zirpel (Department of Biology/Microbiology), performed the collections and identified the mosquitoes to the the species level.  Dr. Paul Johnson (SDSU, Department of Plant Science) assisted in some of the mosquito identifications and provided comparative species from the South Dakota Entomological Museum.  Several South Dakota residents (Ms Peg Holmquest, Ms Donna Juffer, Mr. & Mrs. Terry Drew) assisted in the collection of mosquitoes.  This pilot survey focused on the eastern part of the state because if the West Nile Virus is ever found in South Dakota, it will likely appear in the eastern side first.  During 2001, 2,045 mosquitoes were collected from two sites (Brookings and Watertown) in eastern South Dakota.
Detailed Survey Results
Survey Assistants:
Jeff Nolz, Biology/Chemistry SDSU Undergraduate Student
Kayla Zirpel, Biology SDSU Undergraduate Student
Trapping Cooperators:
Terry and Anne Drew
Peg Holmquest
Donna Juffer


2002
The 2002 started out by focusing on 5 different cities (Brandon, Brookings, North Sioux City, Watertown and Yankton) in the eastern part of the state because it was thought that the virus would likely arrive there 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), performed most of the mosquito collections and identifications to the species level.  Dr. Paul Johnson (SDSU, Department of Plant Science) provided comparative mosquito species from the South Dakota Entomological Museum.
Survey Results
Survey Assistants:
Brent Leininger, Biology/Microbiology, SDSU Undergraduate Student
Trapping Cooperators:
Anthony Christenson
Randy Geross
Peg Holmquist
Scott and Lisa Morford
Jake Taylor


2003
Survey Results
Survey Assistants:
Katheen Dahmash, Biology/Microbiology, SDSU Undergraduate Student
Jeanine Bradley, Biology/Microbiology, SDSU Undergraduate Student
Ryan Beyer, Biology/Microbiology, SDSU Undergraduate Student
 

 

2004

 

Survey Results

Survey Assistants:

Ryan Beyer, Biology/Microbiology, SDSU Undergraduate Student

Josh Seezs, Psychology/Biology, SDSU Undergraduate Student

Trapping Cooperators:



Permanent Project Personnel
2001-2004
Survey Coordinator:
Dr. M.B. Hildreth, Professor, Departments of Biology/Microbiology & Veterinary Science, South Dakota State University

Other SDSU Faculty Involved:
Dr. Michael Catangui, Assistant Professor/Extension Etomologist, SDSU Department of Plant Science
Dr. Paul Johnson, Associate Professor, SDSU Department of Plant Science, Curator of the SDSU Insect Museum
Dr. Nels Troelstrup, Professor, SDSU, Department of Biology & Microbiology, Director of Oak Lake Field Station

S.D. Department of Health Personnel:
 



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