As part of a larger study looking at the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus, USGS and DOFAW personnel monitored adult mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus) along the Kawaikoi Stream during late summer, September through November 2016 and 2017. Ten trap sites were selected across a 1-kilometer grid centered on the intersection of the Alakai Swamp Trail and Kawaikoi Stream, Alakai Wilderness Preserve, Kauai. Traps were located at least 200 meters apart at accessible sites along the stream, valley floor, and adjacent plateau. Both Biogents Sentinel Traps (BGS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Gravid Traps (GRV) were operated nightly at each site from 1600 to 0700 hr the following morning. Depending on the weather (heavy rains and high water) and trap reliability (battery and CO2 delivery failures) the number of traps operated per night varied considerably. The data was used to compare the weekly relative abundance of mosquitoes (mosquitoes/trap-night) across the trapping season and following VectoMax FG application.

As part of a larger study looking at the ecology and potential control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus, USGS and Hawaii DOFAW personnel monitored larval mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus) and the non-target species Microvelia vagans and Megalagrion larvae in perched stream pools, seeps and ground pools along the Kawaikoi Stream during late summer, September through November 2016 and 2017. Pools were sampled before and following treatment with the biopesticide VectoMax FG at 1, 2, 7, 14, and 21 days post treatment to determine the efficacy of control and potential non-target effects. Only pools with mosquito larvae were treated although paired, untreated pools were also sampled to serve as controls for the non-target effects.

As part of a larger study looking at the ecology and potential control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus, USGS and Hawaii DOFAW personnel monitored larval mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus) and the non-target species Microvelia vagans and Megalagrion larvae in perched stream pools, seeps and ground pools along the Kawaikoi Stream during late summer, September through November 2016 and 2017. Pools were sampled before and following treatment with the biopesticide VectoMax FG at 1, 2, 7, 14, and 21 days post treatment to determine the efficacy of control and potential non-target effects. Only pools with mosquito larvae were treated although paired, untreated pools were also sampled to serve as controls for the non-target effects.

This USGS data release consists of seven data sets and accompanying metadata for studies on the efficacy of adult mosquito traps and lures for monitoring populations of the invasive mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus and the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus in Hawaiian forest bird habitat. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of the avian malaria Plasmodium relictum a key limiting factor of forest birds. The main components of the study included: 1) the evaluation of trap designs and lures for adult mosquitoes in forested habitat and the prevalence of malaria in those mosquitoes (Hawaii Island 2 data files), 2) Kawaikoi Stream surveys for larval mosquitoes and suitable larval habitat (Alakai Plateau, Kauai), 3) Larval mosquito control efficacy trials with the biopesticide VectoMax FG (Alakai Plateau, Kauai), 4) adult mosquito monitoring in the Kawaikoi Stream drainage study site and malaria prevalence determination (Alakai Plateau Kauai 2 data files). An additional data file contains geographical coordinates for key localities in the study. The study was conducted by The US Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center personnel in collaboration wth biologists with the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project. Studies were conducted in native forests on Kauai and Hawaii islands during 2016 and 2017.

As part of a larger study on the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus and adult mosquito traps for monitoring, USGS personnel evaluated host-seeking trap configurations and attractants as well as infusions for gravid trap for capturing adult mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus) in native forest habitat from August to November 2017. Four trap sites were selected in a forest tract in Volcano Village. Traps were arranged in a 100-meter square and trap types and lures were rotated through each site during each week of the study in a latin square design. Both host-seeking traps (Biogents Sentinel Traps and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) miniature light traps) and CDC Gravid Traps were operated nightly at each site from 1600 to 0700 hr the following morning.

As part of a larger study on the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus and adult mosquito traps for monitoring, USGS personnel evaluated host-seeking trap configurations and attractants as well as infusions for gravid trap for capturing adult mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus) in native forest habitat from August to November 2017. Four trap sites were selected in a forest tract in Volcano Village. Traps were arranged in a 100-meter square and trap types and lures were rotated through each site during each week of the study in a latin square design. Both host-seeking traps (Biogents Sentinel Traps and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) miniature light traps) and CDC Gravid Traps were operated nightly at each site from 1600 to 0700 hr the following morning.

Mosquito-borne avian malaria is a key limiting factor on Hawaiian forest bird populations. Preservation of endemic forest birds and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird communities will rely on mosquito control. While landscape level control is being developed, managers need short term and reliable tools for monitoring and controlling mosquito populations to protect remaining breeding bird populations. As part of a larger study looking at the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus, USGS and DOFAW personnel monitored adult mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus) along the Kawaikoi Stream during late summer, September through November 2016 and 2017. Ten trap sites were selected across a 1-kilometer grid centered on the intersection of the Alakai Swamp Trail and Kawaikoi Stream, Alakai Wilderness Preserve, Kauai. Traps were located at least 200 meters apart at accessible sites along the stream, valley floor, and adjacent plateau. Both Biogents Sentinel Traps (BGS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Gravid Traps (GR) were operated nightly at each site from 1600 to 0700 hr the following morning. Collected mosquitoes were maintained on a 3% sucrose solution and later dissected for malarial diagnostic. Midguts and salivary glands were examined under compound microscopy (450X) for evidence of infection. Oocyst presence and intensity and sporozoite presence and relative intensity were recorded. While the data does not directly support the project objectives it provides is useful measure of transmission risk at this time and place.

Mosquito-borne avian malaria is a key limiting factor on Hawaiian forest bird populations. Preservation of endemic forest birds and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird communities will rely on mosquito control. While landscape level control is being developed, managers need short term and reliable tools for monitoring and controlling mosquito populations to protect remaining breeding bird populations. As part of a larger study looking at the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus, USGS and DOFAW personnel monitored adult mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus) along the Kawaikoi Stream during late summer, September through November 2016 and 2017. Ten trap sites were selected across a 1-kilometer grid centered on the intersection of the Alakai Swamp Trail and Kawaikoi Stream, Alakai Wilderness Preserve, Kauai. Traps were located at least 200 meters apart at accessible sites along the stream, valley floor, and adjacent plateau. Both Biogents Sentinel Traps (BGS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Gravid Traps (GR) were operated nightly at each site from 1600 to 0700 hr the following morning. Collected mosquitoes were maintained on a 3% sucrose solution and later dissected for malarial diagnostic. Midguts and salivary glands were examined under compound microscopy (450X) for evidence of infection. Oocyst presence and intensity and sporozoite presence and relative intensity were recorded. While the data does not directly support the project objectives it provides is useful measure of transmission risk at this time and place.

As part of a larger study looking at the seasonal distribution and relative abundance of the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, adult mosquito distribution and abundance was monitored at two altitudinal sites throughout the year. Study sites at Delta Camp (915 m asl) and Palikea Camp (1280 m asl) were visited twice during each three-month season from September 2022 to September 2023. At each study site, 15 BioGents (BG) Sentinel II traps (S), 15 BioGents Pro traps (P), and 15 Center for Disease Control (CDC) Gravid traps (G) were operated for 4-7 nights across a 1-kilometer square area. CO2 baited traps (S and P) were operated at 30 fixed transect stations located 100 meters apart and baited with CO2 and BG-Lure or CO2 alone, respectively. Gravid traps were co-located with P traps and baited with a 5-day-old timothy hay infusion. CO2 was released at a delivery rate of 250 ml/min. BioGents Pro traps were suspended in the tree canopy and configured like CDC miniature light traps but were not operated with lights. Acoustic lures (400 hertz) were briefly used with S traps in an attempt to enhance male Culex quinquefasciatus capture. All traps were operated from late afternoon to mid morning of the following day. Each morning captured mosquitoes were extracted from the traps, identified, sexed, enumerated, and preserved dry or in 100% molecular grade ethanol in batches of 1-10. Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes japonicus adults were captured seasonally at both sites. No Aedes albopictus were captured. Only female mosquitoes were captured.

As part of a larger study looking at the seasonal distribution and relative abundance of the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, surveys of available larval mosquito habitat and characterization of that habitat were conducted during each site visit. Surveys were conducted along transects, trails, and streams.