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Outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases in both animals and plants are increasing due to climate change, globalization, land-use change, and agricultural intensification. While most pathogen monitoring programs focus on zoonotic threats, wildlife and other organisms in natural habitats can also serve as reservoirs and sentinels for pathogens of agricultural and ecological concern. Plant communities and the pathogens circulating within them are underrepresented in integrated disease monitoring frameworks. This study demonstrates how biodiversity and zoonosis monitoring programs conducted in protected habitats (tallgrass prairies and woodlands) across Illinois, together with insect specimens preserved in biorepositories, can be leveraged to improve knowledge of the identities and ecological associations of a wide range of potential pathogens. We developed an integrative workflow combining taxonomic identification, molecular screening, and epidemiological inference to detect vector-borne plant pathogens from archived insect material. Focusing on Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha), we screened specimens for phytoplasmas (Mollicutes), uncultured bacterial plant pathogens transmitted by sap-feeding insects, and characterized host–pathogen associations. At least three distinct phytoplasma strains were detected: ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI-B), ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’-related strains (16SrIII), and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari’-related strains (16SrXI-H). The latter represents the first documented occurrence of a 16SrXI-H phytoplasma subgroup in Illinois. Overall, we identified five insect specimens harboring phytoplasmas across four preserved sites, all of which were previously unreported for insect–phytoplasma associations. These findings demonstrate the value of existing biodiversity and zoonosis monitoring infrastructures for proactive surveillance of plant pathogens and extending the One Health paradigm to explicitly include natural ecosystems. 

Abstract Several species of vector mosquitoes (eg 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 (ie 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 from July to September juveniles of Ae. albopictus were predominant. More than half of 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 (eg 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.