New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

New disease-carrying mosquito arrives in British Columbia, Canada

Date:
November 9, 2015
Source:
Simon Fraser University
Summary:
Scientists are studying an invasive, disease-carrying mosquito, Aedes japonicus, after finding it for the first time in Western Canada. The mosquitoes could poise a significant hazard to health if global warming favors the development of some of the viruses it can transmit.
Share:
FULL STORY

A team of researchers from Simon Fraser University and Culex Environmental, a Burnaby-based mosquito control company, are studying an invasive, disease-carrying mosquito, Aedes japonicus, after finding it for the first time in Western Canada. Their research has been published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

The researchers reared and identified mosquito larvae found as early as February this year in water in a tarpaulin in Maple Ridge, a suburb of Vancouver. The insect is native to Asia and has been found in Eastern Canada and the U.S. since 1998, and was reported in Southern Washington and Oregon in 2001.

SFU researchers are studying the insects' DNA to pinpoint their origin. SFU retired biology professor and paper author Peter Belton says the mosquitos could poise a significant hazard to health if global warming favours the development of some of the viruses it can transmit, which include La Crosse encephalitis, West Nile virus, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Simon Fraser University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. Jackson, P. Belton, S. McMahon, M. Hart, S. McCann, D. Azevedo, L. Hurteau. The First Record ofAedes(Hulecoeteomyia)japonicus(Diptera: Culicidae) and Its Establishment in Western Canada. Journal of Medical Entomology, 2015; tjv164 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv164

Cite This Page:

Simon Fraser University. "New disease-carrying mosquito arrives in British Columbia, Canada." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 November 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151109103918.htm>.
Simon Fraser University. (2015, November 9). New disease-carrying mosquito arrives in British Columbia, Canada. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151109103918.htm
Simon Fraser University. "New disease-carrying mosquito arrives in British Columbia, Canada." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151109103918.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES