Data from: Employing tiny harmonic radar tags to study mosquito movement in natural environments
A detailed understanding of mosquito movement dynamics is critical to mosquito-borne disease prevention. While laboratory and trap-based studies have made great strides in providing snapshots of mosquito movement, a real-time comprehensive picture of quotidian mosquito movement is still lacking. However, the development of miniature harmonic radar (HR) tags, suitable for small insect tracking, has made the collection of fine-scale mosquito movement data (locating landing positions) possible. In this study, we assessed the suitability of using HR tags (weighing 50-135 μg) for tracking individual Aedes albopictus in both caged flight tests and natural environments. Flight tests in a large outdoor screen cage demonstrated that mosquitoes were attracted to a darker colored wall and that individuals had variable landing heights, which aligned with published descriptions of Ae. albopictus behavior. Field experiments demonstrated the feasibility of following tagged mosquito movements in a coffee field and in shaded parkland. Movement parameters from both field experiments (step-distances, turning angles, and movement rates) were used to estimate maximum daily dispersals (range 25-52 m/d), and these estimates agree with previously published estimates. While both non-blood fed and blood fed female Ae. albopictus were found to be flight capable with HR tags, several experiments showed some adverse effects of tagging, including increased mortality and decreases in flight times. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that using harmonic radar tags to track mosquitoes can yield biologically relevant results. This approach is promising for future studies investigating adult mosquito movement ecology and dispersal, thus revealing new possibilities for mosquito surveillance and control.
Resources
9 resources available
-
Field cage attraction.csv
CSV -
Field cage SS.csv
CSV -
Field cage TSLB.csv
CSV -
Field tracking coffee.csv
CSV -
Field tracking playground.csv
CSV -
Field tracking Wailoa.csv
CSV -
Flight tube testing.csv
CSV -
Induced flight bioassays.csv
CSV -
Longevity.csv
CSV
Find Related Datasets
Search by Tags
Click any tag below to search for similar datasets
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| bureauCode |
[
"005:18"
]
|
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "Siderhurst, Matthew, S.",
"hasEmail": "mailto:matthew.siderhurst@usda.gov"
}
|
| description | <p dir="ltr">A detailed understanding of mosquito movement dynamics is critical to mosquito-borne disease prevention. While laboratory and trap-based studies have made great strides in providing snapshots of mosquito movement, a real-time comprehensive picture of quotidian mosquito movement is still lacking. However, the development of miniature harmonic radar (HR) tags, suitable for small insect tracking, has made the collection of fine-scale mosquito movement data (locating landing positions) possible. In this study, we assessed the suitability of using HR tags (weighing 50-135 μg) for tracking individual <i>Aedes albopictus </i>in both caged flight tests and natural environments. Flight tests in a large outdoor screen cage demonstrated that mosquitoes were attracted to a darker colored wall and that individuals had variable landing heights, which aligned with published descriptions of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> behavior. Field experiments demonstrated the feasibility of following tagged mosquito movements in a coffee field and in shaded parkland. Movement parameters from both field experiments (step-distances, turning angles, and movement rates) were used to estimate maximum daily dispersals (range 25-52 m/d), and these estimates agree with previously published estimates. While both non-blood fed and blood fed female <i>Ae. albopictus</i> were found to be flight capable with HR tags, several experiments showed some adverse effects of tagging, including increased mortality and decreases in flight times. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that using harmonic radar tags to track mosquitoes can yield biologically relevant results. This approach is promising for future studies investigating adult mosquito movement ecology and dispersal, thus revealing new possibilities for mosquito surveillance and control.</p> |
| distribution |
[
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field cage attraction.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855522"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field cage SS.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855525"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field cage TSLB.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855528"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field tracking coffee.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855531"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field tracking playground.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855534"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Field tracking Wailoa.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855537"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Flight tube testing.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855540"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Induced flight bioassays.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855543"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Longevity.csv",
"format": "csv",
"mediaType": "text/csv",
"downloadURL": "https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/61855546"
}
]
|
| identifier | 10.15482/USDA.ADC/31329289.v1 |
| keyword |
[
"aedes albopictus",
"animal tracking and telemetry",
"harmonic radar",
"insect movement",
"mosquites"
]
|
| license | https://www.usa.gov/publicdomain/label/1.0/ |
| modified | 2026-02-23 |
| programCode |
[
"005:040"
]
|
| publisher |
{
"name": "Agricultural Research Service",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| temporal | 2025-06-03/2025-08-14 |
| title | Data from: Employing tiny harmonic radar tags to study mosquito movement in natural environments |
