Aedes (Fredwardsius) vittatus (Bigot, 1861) is a mosquito species native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the western Mediterranean. Learn what to do if you spot this species in the Gulf South region.
Bella Termini is currently completing her M.S. in Tropical Medicine at the Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she works in the lab of Dr. Dawn Wesson.
Dr. Susanne Straif‑Bourgeois brings more than 30 years of experience in infectious disease epidemiology, working across multiple countries and public health settings. Her academic training and early research centered on vector‑borne diseases, with master’s and doctoral work examining disease transmission pathways in blood‑feeding arthropods and malaria vector capacity in North Cameroon. These foundations shaped a career dedicated to understanding, detecting, and responding to emerging infectious diseases.
Forest habitats are rarely part of the typical mosquito surveillance stops in the south, given how many medically important species exists in open water habitats and containers in suburban and urban spaces. However, in those deciduous forests often lingers an important and often overlooked species, Aedes triseriatus, commonly known as the eastern tree hole mosquito.
Anamika Sharma, Ph.D., joined Florida A&M University in 2022 as an urban entomologist, bringing her extensive expertise in insect ecology, biological control, and integrated pest management (IPM) to address the challenges of both urban and agricultural pests. Her current research focuses on fire ants, termites, mosquitoes, and other arthropod species in urban environments.
A new study led by the University of Florida and Texas A&M reveals that Florida’s little-known kissing bug is more widespread than previously recognized, with nearly 30% carrying Trypanosoma cruzi. Researchers continue investigating the risks this insect may pose to humans and companion animals.
Dr. Brandi K. Sandstrom, a veterinarian with over two decades of experience and a recent MPH graduate, supports the Gulf South VECTOR mission through One Health–focused outreach and training. Her work helps bridge veterinary and public health sectors to strengthen vector-borne disease prevention across the region.