Temporal Changes in Diversity and Abundance of Mosquitoes (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae) in a Small Ecological Preserve in North Carolina

We documented a changing diversity in mosquito species between 2 collection periods— 1994–1996 and 2013–2015—in a small (68-ha) ecological preserve in the piedmont of North Carolina. A short (22-y) ecological succession from abandoned farmland to developing forested wetland, and changes in precipitation clearly influenced differences in presence and abundance of species in the preserve. Thirty species were reported from the first period and 32 species in the second period. Of the 30 species found in 1994–1996, 3 species were not collected in the 2013–2015 period. Conversely, 6 species not reported previously were present in the 2013–2015 collections. From both periods, a total of 7172 mosquito specimens of 36 species were collected, representing 95% of species found in Rowan County, an area 2000 times larger than the Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological Preserve (FSJEP), and 54% of species recognized in North Carolina. These results demonstrate the advantages of studying mosquito diversity and abundance over time in small preserves, the impact of short-period environmental fluctuations and ecological succession on mosquito habitats, and the value of small wetland preserves for rare or uncommon species affected by habitat loss.