TY - JOUR T1 - The Nedre Dalälven River Landscape in Central Sweden - a hot-spot for mosquito (Diptera:Culicidae) diversity JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2018 A1 - Schäfer, Martina L. A1 - Wahlqvist, Pernilla A1 - Lundström, Jan O. SP - 17 EP - 22 KW - Europe KW - floodplains KW - mosquito diversity KW - mosquito species richness KW - River Dalälven KW - Sweden AB - Abstract: The floodplains of the River Dalälven, Central Sweden, have previously been known for enormous abundance of mosquitoes causing unbearable nuisance, but since mosquito control measures by Biologisk Myggkontroll (BMK) commenced in 2002, the area’s beautiful landscape and high biodiversity can be more appreciated. The floodplains are the central part of the UNESCO Nedre Dalälven River Landscape Biosphere Reserve as well as the location of various protected areas. The rich biodiversity also includes mosquitoes, although these insects are rarely considered in the study of biodiversity. We analysed mosquito data collected by the BMK surveillance program from 2001 until 2017 for species richness and assemblages of the mosquito fauna in the floodplains of the River Dalälven, and the nearby Creeks Vretaån and Kilsån. The mosquito species richness of the Nedre Dalälven River Landscape included 30 species in the present study, and three to eight species could potentially be added according to other studies, which then includes more than 70% of all known mosquito species in Sweden. The location of the floodplains at the Limes Norrlandicus, the border between southern and northern vegetation zones, is reflected in the mosquito fauna that includes species commonly found in Northern Sweden as well as more southern species. The mosquito species richness of the region is similar to the species richness observed in other floodplain areas in Central and Southern Europe. Hydrological conditions of the Lake basins of the River Dalälven floodplains varied from frequent flooding with high amplitude to almost no flooding. As expected, the hydrological variations were reflected in the mosquito assemblages, with high prevalence of floodwater mosquitoes in the flood-prone areas and more homogenous assemblages in the areas less subject to flooding. In conclusion, the River Dalälven floodplain area is considered a mosquito diversity hot-spot for Sweden and for Europe. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 36: 17-22, 2018 VL - 36 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Efficiency of Bti-based floodwater mosquito control in Sweden – four examples JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2014 A1 - Schäfer, Martina L. A1 - Lundström, Jan O. SP - 1 EP - 8 KW - Aedes sticticus KW - Bti KW - floodwater mosquitoes KW - mosquito control KW - treatment coverage KW - treatment efficiency AB -

Abstract: Mass-occurrence of floodwater mosquitoes, mainly Aedes sticticus, in the River Dalälven floodplains in central Sweden has caused public health issues and economic losses for many decades. In the summer of 2000, the problem escalated and the Biological Mosquito Control project was initiated with the aim of reducing mosquito nuisance. Larviciding, based on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), was chosen as the optimal method. However, high abundance of blood-seeking floodwater mosquitoes after Bti-treatments on some occasions raised questions about the effectiveness of the treatments. This study evaluated the effect of Bti-larviciding on abundance of larval and adult floodwater mosquitoes in four selected study areas, each represented by a CDC-trap site and a 5 km radius. The four areas differed with respect to their mosquito control history and the coverage of larval habitats with Bti-larviciding. The Bti-treatments provided a significant reduction of mosquito larval abundance, and normally 100% reduction was achieved. Thus, high abundance of blood-seeking mosquitoes could not be explained by insufficient larval control by Bti. However, a significant negative correlation was found between high numbers of blood-seeking floodwater mosquitoes and the coverage of larval habitats with Bti-larviciding within 5 km around the trap site. Consistently low numbers of mosquitoes (less than 1000 per trap/night) were only found in the two areas with high treatment coverage of larval habitats (97-100%). Evaluating the mosquito control efficiency showed that larval habitat coverage of at least about 95% is required in order to accomplish consistent low floodwater mosquito numbers. The conclusion from this analysis is that the coverage of larval habitats with Bti-larviciding in parts of the River Dalälven floodplains has to increase in order to guarantee an improvement of the public health problems caused by Aedes sticticus and other floodwater mosquitoes to both humans and animals in the region. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 32: 1-8, 2014

VL - 32 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The geographic distribution of mosquito species in Sweden JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Lundström, Jan O. A1 - Schäfer, Martina L. A1 - Hesson, Jenny C. A1 - Blomgren, Eric A1 - Lindström, Anders A1 - Wahlqvist, Pernilla A1 - Halling, Arne A1 - Hagelin, Anna A1 - Ahlm, Clas A1 - Evander, Magnus A1 - Broman, Tina A1 - Forsman, Mats A1 - Persson Vinnersten, Thomas Z. SP - 21 EP - 35 KW - CDC Light Trap KW - Counter-flow trap KW - Culicidae KW - mosquito distribution KW - mosquito surveillance KW - Sweden AB -

Surveillance of the actual distribution of mosquito species in Northern Europe is fundamental for evaluating risk for emerging pathogens, and for research on potential vectors. The Swedish mosquito fauna composition and geographic distribution, originally described by Professor Christine Dahl in the 1970´s, included 43 species. We have compiled the information published from 1978 to 2012, and our own surveillance data from 2001 to 2013, and compared this with the species list and geographic distribution provided in “Taxonomy and geographic distribution of Swedish Culicidae” by Dahl (1977). New species detected during these 36 years were Culiseta (Culicella) ochroptera (Peus, 1935) published 1984, Aedes (Aedes) rossicus Dolbeskin, Goritzkaja & Mitrofanova, 1930 published 1986, Anopheles (Anopheles) beklemishevi published 1986, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) euedes (Howard, Dyar & Knab, 1912) published 2001, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) nigrinus (Eckstein, 1918) first recorded in 2012, and Anopheles (Anopheles) algeriensis Theobald, 1903, first recorded in 2013. We provide maps with the distribution by province for each species, including historic information up until 1977, and new records from 1978 to 2013, showing the similarities and differences between the old and the new records. Important findings in recent years include the wide distribution of the Sindbis virus enzootic vector Culex (Culex) torrentium Martinii, 1925, and the more limited distribution of the potential West Nile virus vector Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus, 1758. The updated list of mosquito species in Sweden now includes 49 species.

VL - 31 ER -