- Arielle Arsenault-Benoit: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
- Megan L Fritz: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Landscape heterogeneity creates diverse habitat and resources for mosquito vectors of disease. A consequence may be varied distribution and abundance of vector species over space and time dependent on niche requirements.We tested the hypothesis that landscape heterogeneity driven by urbanization influences the distribution and relative abundance of , , and three vectors of West Nile virus (WNv) in the eastern North American landscape. We collected 9,803 cryptic from urban, suburban, and rural sites in metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia, during the months of June-October, 2019-2021. In 2021, we also collected mosquitoes in April and May to measure early-season abundance and distribution. Molecular techniques were used to identify a subset of collected to species (n = 2,461). Ecological correlates of the spatiotemporal distribution of these cryptic were examined using constrained and unconstrained ordination.Seasonality was not associated with community composition in June-October over three years but introducing April and May data revealed seasonal shifts in community composition in the final year of our study. were dominant across site types, while were associated with urban environments, and were associated with rural and suburban sites. All three species rarely coexisted.Our work demonstrates that human-mediated land-use changes influence the distribution and relative abundance of vectors of WNv, even on fine geospatial scales. Site classification, percent impervious surface, distance to city center, and longitude predicted community composition. We documented active months before vector surveillance typically commences in this region, with being most abundant during April and May. Active suppression of in April and May could reduce early enzootic transmission, delay the seasonal spread of WNv, and thereby reduce overall WNv burden. By June, the highest risk of epizootic spillover of WNv to human hosts may be in suburban areas with high human population density and mixed assemblages that can transmit WNv between birds and humans. Focusing management efforts there may further reduce human disease burden.