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 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 gravid trap lures 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 CDC miniature light traps) and CDC Gravid Traps 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 diagnostics. 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. The data provides for a comparison of trap types and lures for deriving malaria prevalence data and a 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.

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.

This data publication contains data files collected as part of a field, laboratory, and modeling effort aimed at uncovering ecological drivers of avian malaria transmission and impacts on Hawaiian honeycreepers across an elevational gradient on the eastern flank of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes on Hawaii Island. From 2001-2004, mosquito and bird data were collected at nine sites ranging 25 to 1,800 m above sea level. This data publication includes site and sampling coordinate data, mosquito capture data, mosquito avian malaria infection data, and point-transect distance sampling data. Site coordinate data consists of GPS spatial location data of sampling points where mosquitoes were captured and birds were surveyed to estimate abundance, comprising 45 points per site at 100 m intervals along five transects spaced 200 m apart. Mosquito capture data consists of counts of mosquitoes captured per trap night during 4-9 trapping nights per site per month over the study period. Mosquito infection data comprises avian malaria diagnostic data for a subset of captured mosquitoes that were dissected and malaria infection determined by microscopic examination of mosquito midguts and salivary glands. Point-transect distance sampling data consists of quarterly bird survey data in which observers recorded the horizontal distance of each sampling point to birds detected by sight and sound during 8-minute counts.

This data publication contains data files collected as part of a field, laboratory, and modeling effort aimed at uncovering ecological drivers of avian malaria transmission and impacts on Hawaiian honeycreepers across an elevational gradient on the eastern flank of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes on Hawaii Island. From 2001-2004, mosquito and bird data were collected at nine sites ranging 25 to 1,800 m above sea level. This data publication includes site and sampling coordinate data, mosquito capture data, mosquito avian malaria infection data, and point-transect distance sampling data. Site coordinate data consists of GPS spatial location data of sampling points where mosquitoes were captured and birds were surveyed to estimate abundance, comprising 45 points per site at 100 m intervals along five transects spaced 200 m apart. Mosquito capture data consists of counts of mosquitoes captured per trap night during 4-9 trapping nights per site per month over the study period. Mosquito infection data comprises avian malaria diagnostic data for a subset of captured mosquitoes that were dissected and malaria infection determined by microscopic examination of mosquito midguts and salivary glands. Point-transect distance sampling data consists of quarterly bird survey data in which observers recorded the horizontal distance of each sampling point to birds detected by sight and sound during 8-minute counts.

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.

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 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.

This data release includes metadata and tabular data from a field study of avian diseases (malaria and pox virus) that threatened recovery of the last extant population of ‘Alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) before it went extinct in the wild in the early part of the 21st century. The study focused on habitat occupied by the last remaining wild ‘Alalā and determined prevalence of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in native and non-native forest bird reservoir hosts (Atkinson et al. 2005), oviposition trap captures of Culex quinquefasciatus (the primary vector of avian malaria and pox virus) and Aedes albopictus across an altitudinal gradient, prevalence of malaria within the vector population, wing lengths of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus at different elevations, primary larval habitats and abundance of those habitats across an altitudinal gradient, environmental factors (temperature, humidity and rainfall) that might affect vector distribution and longevity, details about reduction in larval habitat after management actions to drain feral pig damaged tree ferns (Cibotium spp), and pre- and post-treatment oviposition trap catches before and after habitat management.