DOI: 10.5061/dryad.n2z34tn77
title: Data from: Evaluating vector mosquito occurrence in residential rain barrels in central Illinois

description: Several species of vector mosquitoes (e.g., Culex pipiens (Linnaeus,
 1758), Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895)) complete juvenile development in
 artificial containers. Rain barrels are green infrastructure tools used to
 conserve rainwater for outdoor use, though they may also serve as a source
 of mosquito habitat in residential neighborhoods. To identify rain barrel
 features, maintenance habits, and other conditions associated with the
 presence of juvenile mosquitoes (i.e., month), we conducted periodic
 inspections of rain barrels at 53 households in central Illinois, USA,
 between June and September 2016. Additionally, we administered a
 questionnaire to the household study participants. In the first month of
 the study, a diversity of mosquito species was detected in household rain
 barrels, but for July-September, juveniles of Ae. albopictus were
 predominant. More than half of the inspected households contained at least
 one mosquito-positive rain barrel within the study period. Using stepwise
 model selection, the strongest predictors of whether or not mosquito
 juveniles were detected in rain barrels were the use of a preventative
 measure (e.g., Bti, chlorine, goldfish), the presence of a mesh covering
 on the lid of the barrel, and the month of the year. Additionally, the
 participant questionnaire revealed that the majority of respondents were
 aware of immediate elimination methods, but few were aware of the need for
 long-term preventative maintenance of rain barrels against larval mosquito
 colonization. These findings provide valuable insight into best practices
 for mosquito prevention in green infrastructure and highlight the
 importance of proper maintenance and education to minimize juvenile
 mosquito habitat.
description: # Data from: Evaluating vector mosquito occurrence in residential rain
 barrels in central Illinois
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n2z34tn77](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n2z34tn77) ## Description of the data and file structure **R.E. Cloud, A.J. Mackay, M.C. Sanchez, C.E. Wangen, B.F. Allan.** Evaluating vector mosquito occurrence in residential rain barrels in central Illinois *Journal of Medical Entomology* **Cloud_etal_2025_data_code_files.zip** This zip directory contains the data files and R codes required to reproduce analyses in the associated paper evaluating rain barrel features associated with vector mosquito occurrence in residential Champaign Urbana. **Authors** Rebecca E. Cloud University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology 505 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 [rcloud3@illinois.edu](mailto:rcloud3@illinois.edu) Andrew J. Mackay University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Natural History Survey 1902 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 [amackay@illinois.edu](mailto:amackay@illinois.edu) Maeli C. Sanchez University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology 505 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 Catherine E. Wangen University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology 505 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 Brian F. Allan University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Integrative Biology 505 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 [ballan@illinois.edu](mailto:ballan@illinois.edu) ### Files and variables #### File: Cloud_etal_2025_data_code_files.zip **File list** (files in Cloud_etal_2025data_code_files.zip) Cloud_etal_2025_fielddata.csv Cloud_etal_2025_fielddata.R Cloud_etal_2025_specimen_ID.csv Cloud_etal_2025_specimen_ID.R Cloud_etal_2025_resident_survey.csv README_Cloud_etal_2025_fielddata.txt README_Cloud_etal_2025_specimen_ID.txt README_Cloud_etal_2025_resident_survey.txt **File descriptions** * Cloud_etal_2025_fielddata.csv - Contains the data from repeated inspection of rain barrels at 53 residential sites. * Cloud_etal_2025_fielddata.R - Contains the code required to build and test the generalized linear mixed model and generate model predictions. * Cloud_etal_2025_specimen_ID.csv - Contains the identification data for larval specimens collected from rain barrels. * Cloud_etal_2025_specimen_ID.R - Contains the code required to assess relative abundance of larval mosquito species present in samples collected from rain barrels. * Cloud_etal_2025_resident_survey.csv - Contains the responses from the survey provided to rain barrel owners. ## Code/software R software and associated package dependencies ([https://www.r-project.org/](https://www.r-project.org/)) are required to open and execute the R code files. ## Human subjects data While some survey participants’ responses to questions regarding their management of rain barrels have been included verbatim in the submitted dataset “Cloud_etal_2025_resident_survey.csv”, all direct identifiers of study participants have been removed from our submitted datasets.