The ecology of bloodfeeding by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in zoos

Mosquitoes were collected at zoos in 2009 and 2010 for the purposes of bloodmeal analysis to infer hosts and detection of Dirofilaria immitis (the causative agent of dog heartworm) in situ in mosquitoes. Mosquitoes were identified to species, individual collection locations were noted, and females were scored for gonotrophic progress on Sella's scale. PCR-based molecular methods were used to determine infection status for dog heartworm and identify hosts to class. Direct sequencing of PCR products was used to determine blood hosts to species. Species collected included Aedes albopictus, Ae. triseriatus, Anopheles punctipennis, An. quadrimaculatus, Culex pipiens complex, Cx. restuans, and Cx. territans. No mosquitoes tested positive for dog heartworm. Mosquitoes fed on captive and free-ranging birds, mammals, and reptiles. Mosquitoes in several genera contained mixed bird-mammal (including human) bloodmeals.