As Clark County sizzles under the summer heat, a quiet yet pesky threat is multiplying at parks, golf courses, fountains, and maybe even your own backyard: Mosquitoes have adapted and, in some areas, are thriving.

With millions of the biting bugs now swarming the once mosquito-free Las Vegas Valley, the UNLV School of Public Health’s Parasitology and Vector Biology (PARAVEC) Lab is working to better understand, monitor, and control this increasingly pervasive issue.

Established in 2022, the bug lab has kept busy with its community-focused mission. Amid petri dishes incubating mosquito larvae and square, net-draped cubes filled with clustering skeeters and tanks crawling with seashell-sized Madagascar cockroaches, a team of faculty and student researchers is working on a range of projects. 

They’re tracking mosquito species and migration patterns from other parts of the country and globe to Las Vegas. Tracing the genetic origins and evolution of mosquito-borne viruses. Conducting a community survey to monitor the increase in the critters. Working to develop pesticides or other abatement measures. Helping residents identify insects that are lurking in their homes. And developing museum exhibits and running a “citizen scientist” program where locals can collect samples in their own neighborhoods for analysis. 

“Because of climate change, mosquito season, which typically lasts from late spring to October, has been lengthening — which means even more potential for them to spread West Nile, dengue, Zika, or other viruses,” said bug lab leader Louisa Messenger, a UNLV School of Public Health professor, researcher, and medical entomologist specializing in the prevention of insect-borne tropical diseases. 

We checked in with the PARAVEC Lab scientists to get the lowdown on their research into ways to outsmart these persistent pests.

Courting Public Opinion 

In just a decade, Clark County’s population has exploded by nearly 15% to 2.4 million residents. Accompanying that boom are neighborhoods with artificial lakes, irrigated grass, and poorly drained landscaping that have become unexpected mosquito breeding hotspots. And while some species barely travel the length of a football field in their lifetime, others can travel miles making pest control an uphill battle as the region continues to sprawl. 

To get a handle on the issue, the PARAVEC lab in May launched an online survey that explores how locals perceive the mosquito risk — and what they’d support in terms of solutions.

From mosquito traps and municipal insecticide sprays to water treatments that kill mosquitoes before they become biting adults or possibly even releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce the population, the survey solicits feedback that could be used to establish an integrated, multi-pronged mosquito control program.

“We’re mapping responses by ZIP code to identify areas where residents see mosquitoes as a serious issue,” explained environmental and global health graduate student researcher and project lead Analisa Ramirez. “It’s been eye-opening to see how concerns vary depending on where people live.”

The research team will continue to gather survey data through the fall. So far, she said, the data reveals that most residents want action. And they’re willing to support ballot proposals to expand mosquito control measures, especially when they understand the risks associated with increased insect intrusion. The survey addresses environmental and health concerns by explaining the mechanics of the various prevention methods.

Insecticide Resistance

While government-led, community-wide solutions for mosquito reduction are important, the research team says creating avenues for private abatement is just as crucial. And a clue may lie in a temperature-regulated refrigerator, where rows of mosquitoes are bred, tested, and analyzed.

Here, the team stores mosquitoes used to test the effectiveness of first-line insecticides that are most commonly used by private businesses and homeowners throughout the valley. The lab-grown control specimens are compared to mosquitoes collected from four regions of Clark County, including Henderson and Summerlin neighborhoods that — due to grass-heavy features like golf courses and newer subdivisions with manmade lakes — have seen higher activity among mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.

Researchers say the results are alarming.

It takes over 100 times the standard dose of typical commercially available insecticides to kill Southern Nevada mosquitoes than in other areas. In some of the UNLV researchers’ tests, Las Vegas mosquitoes survived 48 hours after exposure to doses that would normally kill in 40 minutes.

“It’s clear that they are highly resistant to certain chemicals or pesticides we use,” shared doctoral student Trishan Wickramasinghe, as he inspected the mosquitoes in the netted-cloth cages. “With the survey data and insecticide research, all of our efforts come together to create a broader picture of what's going on — helping us determine how to approach each location individually, using insecticides tailored to the specific needs of each area.”

Meanwhile, the team is also trying to identify new chemicals, but it’s not easy.

“We’re really limited in the number of insecticides that are safe for human use, cheap, and effective,” added Messenger. “It takes about 20 years and a lot of investment to make new chemicals, so we want to preserve the efficacy of the ones we have.”

Citizen Science and Youth Engagement

The PARAVEC Lab isn’t just a research hub — it’s also a training ground for future scientists and a resource for the public.

After all, in a metro area as large as Clark County, where there are more mosquitoes than humans, battling bugs is a huge undertaking. So, the lab partnered with the Southern Nevada Health District to lead a community surveillance project that empowers citizen scientists — individuals without formal training in entomology — to collect water samples from mosquito breeding sites, which the lab can then screen for further analysis.

Children as young as grade-school age through high school tend to be the program’s biggest fans. And collecting mosquito larvae from rain puddles, park ponds, and backyard fountains often turns into a fun family activity, show-and-tell classroom showcase, or science project.

Last year, the lab hosted an exhibition at the Nevada State Museum, where kids had the opportunity to learn about medical entomology and to get cuddly with those aforementioned seashell-sized cockroaches.

“It's a good learning opportunity for kids to get into science. While adults often get antsy around insects, kids tend to love bugs much more than adults,” Messenger added. “We're really interested in being able to mobilize members of the community.” 

Looking Forward: A Smarter Approach

As Southern Nevada continues to reshape with climate change, urban development, and more, UNLV’s mosquito researchers know that their work is only just beginning.

Through genetic tracking, resistance testing, education, and data surveillance, the lab is laying the groundwork for not only regional abatement program, but a long-term global solution: Contributing to the eventual development of vaccines that tamp down the spread of West Nile, malaria, and other mosquito-borne viruses. 

“Las Vegas is like an island in the desert — and that gives us a unique opportunity,” Messenger shares. “We’re isolated enough that we’re able to do good mosquito control tailored to our town and also incorporate lessons learned from around the world.”

In other words, UNLV’s mosquito research isn’t just about bugs — it’s about building a healthier, smarter, and more connected Southern Nevada. While the buzz around mosquitoes is growing, these scientists are working to take the bite out of the story.