The Great Plains region is experiencing a biome-level conversion as grasslands are being rapidly encroached by eastern redcedar ( L.; ERC) which, in turn, causes abiotic and biotic changes throughout the region. These changes brought about by ERC encroachment are providing habitat for ticks and mosquitoes that increase the risk for vector-borne diseases. This study evaluated the influence of ERC on the abundance of ticks at the tree level by matching CO traps under individual ERC trees with traps in nearby grass patches at seven sites across central and western Oklahoma. From 3,654 ticks collected, significantly more adult and nymphal (L.) and adult (Say) were collected under the individual ERC trees compared to the adjacent grass patches. Along with growing evidence that larger-scale ERC encroachment increases the abundance of ticks, this finding suggests that even single ERC trees within an encroached area provide sufficient habitat for and . This study also contributes novel information about the fine-scale effects of this invasive encroaching tree species on the ecology of vector-borne disease systems.

We examined the species composition and temporal occurrence of immature mosquitoes in containers and storm-water drains/catch basins from November 2011 to June 2013 in Mérida City, México. A wide range of urban settings were examined, including residential premises, vacant lots, parking lots, and streets or sidewalks with storm-water drains/catch basins. In total, 111,776 specimens of 15 species were recorded. The most commonly collected species were () (L.) (n = 60,961) and Say (45,702), which together accounted for 95.4% of the immatures collected. These species were commonly encountered during both rainy and dry seasons, whereas most other mosquito species were collected primarily during the rainy season. Other species collected were () Diaz Najera, () (Wiedemann), () (Coquillett), Dyar and Knab, Dyar and Knab, Dyar and Knab, Theobald, Coquillett, Coquillett, Dyar, Theobald, Theobald, and (Coquillett). The greatest number of species was recorded from vacant lots (n = 11), followed by storm-water drains/catch basins (nine) and residential premises (six). Our study demonstrated that the heterogeneous urban environment in Mérida City supports a wide range of mosquito species, many of which are nuisance biters of humans and/or capable of serving as vectors of pathogens affecting humans or domestic animals. We also briefly reviewed the medical importance of the encountered mosquito species.