Ochlerotatus japonicus

japonicus
Nicholas Bowers, Ebaa Dufera,
Erin Obarowski, Kelly Vu

Introduction

Group Members | Nicholas Bowers,

Ebaa Dufera, Erin Obarowski & Kelly Vu
Project Background & Abstract | The
main idea of this whole project is to
reduce the amount of mosquitos in the
Kelley Cofer Lake. To start off, Kelley
Cofer Lake is our neighborhood lake that
we visit almost every week. As we all
know, mosquitos are common carriers of
viruses and many other diseases, which is
unsafe for the environment of the people
living around the lake. Therefore, we need
to find a solution that will be eco-friendly
and effective to make Kelley Cofer Lake
safer for everyone in the community.

Habitat
The Oc. j. japonicus can be found in
forested habitats and often in high
elevations. They are found in
artificial/natural containers, such as tires,
bird baths, plastic drink containers, toys,
wood piles, rock pools, and tree holes.
They dont predominate with water
temperatures at 30 C/ 86 F from June to
September. Our mosquito may not be
able to survive in regions of the USA with
relatively high summer temperatures.

Disease
A virus that our mosquito carries is the West Nile Virus. About one in five
people are infected with this virus. Most will develop fevers, headaches, joint
pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. Most recover completely, but fatigue/
headaches and weakness can last for weeks and months. Less than 1% will
develop serious neurologic illness, where there is no treatment. Another virus that
they carry is the St. Louis Encephalitis Virus. The risk of a severe form of the
disease generally increases with age and is more common in adults. It causes
inflammation of the brain and other symptoms, such as fatigue/ headaches,
fevers, nausea/vomiting, and tiredness. Severe disease is marked by neck
stiffness, stupor (state of near unconsciousness), disorientation, coma, tremors,
convulsions/ seizures, and severe neuroinvasive disease. The last disease, the
Lacrosse Encephalitis, has the same symptoms, but the effects are more of the
nervous system.

Reproductive Habits
The Oc. j. japonicus oviposits an average of
115 eggs, with a maximum of 289, and a minimum
of 3. They lay their eggs on the ground where
they remain until flooded. The eggs from these
species can survive for three to five years if
flooding does not occur. In some cases, eggs
hatch as soon as they are flooded and so there
can be several generations a year. Gestation, the
process of carrying or being carried in the womb
between conception and birth, can occur after
several days to a week and is temperature
dependent.

Population
The ochlerotatus japonicus has become the third largest recorded invasive species
in the southeastern region of North America. The success of widespread
population distribution has been a result of a number of factors, including its ability
to withstand long distance dispersal and winter temperatures in temperate regions,
and its high tolerance to organic concentrations in a number of natural and artificial
areas. The ochlerotatus japonicus has less specialized requirements for aquatic
habitats which could further facilitate the further spread of these species. The
species also has two larval population peaks annually between the months of midApril to mid-May in spring, and early August to mid-September during summer.

Population Analysis

Mosquito Population Percent of

Total Sample Collected by Traps
(2014)

Demography of Ochlerotatus Native/Invasive

Habitual Areas (2015)

Number of Larvae Collected

from Different Species (2014)

Project Plan
Our solution is to create an ecosystem-friendly mosquito trap that will lure
them in and gradually kill them. Inside the bottle, we will add things such as lemon
juice, milk, brown sugar & yeast, and more to attract the mosquito. Once the
mosquito is inside of the bottle, there will be a sap like substance to capture the
mosquitos. Once theyre in, they cant get out and will soon die within the bottle.
We estimate that this project will cost about $7 per bottle. Since we go to the lake
every week with the class, we plan on replacing the traps in our set area.
Pros
-

Cheap
Easy to gather materials
Easy to build / make
Eco-system friendly
Effective

Cons
- Necessary to replace
every week
- Needs multiple bottles in
order to do actual
damage
- Needs to be placed
everywhere

Math Correlation
In the span of this project, we will be recording, analyzing, and graphing the
population density and distribution of the species and monitoring habitual breeding
peaks of the species in our area. Once we have a suitable amount of data, we will
construct a mathematical equation as a visual understanding that represents the
increase/decrease in our mosquito population.

References
1.

Population Distribution/Ecological Pathways

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/vectors/mosquitoes/Pages/aedes-japonicus.aspx

2.

Invasive/Native Demography
http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/vectors/mosquitoes/Pages/aedes-japonicus.aspx

3.

Management/Preventative Methods
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1396

4.

Larval Population Studies

http://jme.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/6/774

5.

Mosquito Expansion
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20180307