30 - Exploring the role of backyard pollinator habitats in shaping the prevalence of nuisance and vector mosquitoes

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

2:15 PM - 2:25 PM PDT

Location: B119

Presenter(s)

Hannah Dehus, MS (she/her/hers)

PhD Student, Graduate Research Associate
The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States

Co-Author(s)

Caralee Shepard, PhD

The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States
Mary M. Gardiner, PhD, MS

Professor of Entomology
The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States
Megan E. Meuti, PhD

Associate Professor
The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States
Kayla I. Perry, PhD

The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States
Samuel F. Ward, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology
The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States

Abstract: Homeowners plant wildflower gardens to support pollinators. Although mosquitoes prefer nectar from specific flowers, it remains unknown whether including certain flowering plants in gardens unintentionally increases the prevalence of mosquitoes. To evaluate relationships between flowering plant species and mosquito abundances, we collected mosquitoes and recorded floral availability across residential properties. Plant species exerted detectable but weak effects on mosquitoes, suggesting that incorporating specific flowering plants into pollinator gardens is unlikely to modulate mosquito exposure.