Mosquitoes play an important role within the state of North Dakota. Mosquitoes can transmit numerous pathogens and viruses to humans, wildlife, and livestock. It is important to recognize that not all mosquito species can transmit all parasites or viruses. In addition, mosquitoes are integral to food webs that support amphibian, fish, and avian populations.
One of the best methods of disease prevention is education which includes, at the foundational level, knowing which mosquito species are found in an ecosystem (and across the state). Not only is it important to know what species are present, but also when each species is out during the summer and how many mosquitoes are present. An example of when/and to what extent mosquito numbers play a role is evident when investigating the cases of West Nile virus across our state…typically late July-September when Culex tarsalis populations are at their highest.
Our goal is to recognize mosquito populations across the state of North Dakota by collecting, identifying, and monitoring population trends of mosquitoes throughout the summer months. In addition, mosquitoes that are engorged (contain blood), can be used to identify what the different mosquito species tend to feed upon (host preference). As data is collected, the project will also analyze how weather and climate data can influence mosquito populations.
This site will provide information from this project to the public and to other fellow mosquito enthusiasts who may be interested in what mosquitoes are doing in the highly under-researched state of North Dakota. Support for this project comes from ND INBRE. Students and faculty present information collected from this project at the annual ND INBRE conference, regional conferences, national meetings, and at other professional organizations such as the Entomological Society of America conferences.
Common Name – Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
First insect of the week for 2025 is this beautiful butterfly commonly known as a “Mourning Cloak” in the United States, and in Britain it is known as the “Camberwell Beauty.” Keeping in mind that depending upon where you are in the world, we as biologist typically only use the scientific names of animals, this on being “Nymphalis antiopa.”
Note the unique spelling… “mourning” and not “morning.” The US common name of this butterfly stems from Scandinavian origins (from folks who likely didn’t see much of this butterfly in Norway and Sweden). The name is believed to be derived from “a girl who didn’t like her ‘mourning cloak’ and would defiantly show a few inches of her bright colored dress below.”
As caterpillars, they typically feed upon willow plants, American Elm, and Poplars. The caterpillars live gregariously (in large numbers) in communal silken nests on the host-plant. The adults feed on sap, ripe/fallen fruits, and the sugary exudate from aphids…rarely seen on flowers.
This project utilizes a few different mosquito collection methods including the following trap types that are typically associated with mosquito research.
