Infection and host-feeding patterns of West Nile virus vectors varies by urban greenspace composition

Abstract

Greenspaces are integral to the urban environment and affect climate resilience, yet the extent to which they affect mosquito and West Nile virus (WNV) host populations and behavior is not clear. To address this question, we collected mosquitoes along a transect spanning a range of urban development. Mosquitoes were tested for West Nile virus, and the host species that were fed on determined for blood-fed specimens. Bird counts and camera traps were used to assess avian and mammal species availability. Different components that contribute to WNV transmission intensity responded to different landcover variables. Abundance of Culex mosquitoes was most strongly tied to impervious surface, while prevalence of infection was associated with increasing amounts of turf grass. The amount of turf was itself correlated with a measure of avian community reservoir competence. Blood meal analysis suggested the majority of blood meals in the ornithophagic species Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans came from American robins and northern cardinals, with the latter in particular being overutilized relative to their abundance in sites with higher WNV prevalence. This work furthers our understanding of how the design of urban greenspaces could benefit from consideration of vector-host-virus interactions.