Mosquito research at St John’s Churchyard, Malone

Tuesday June 3rd 2025

Aidan Desjardins in St John’s Churchyard with the rector, the Rev Stephen Fielding.

St John’s, Malone, is currently supporting a PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast by offering up its churchyard for his research.

Aidan Desjardins’ research subject is Vectors on Heat Islands: Assessing Urbanisation and Microclimatic effects on Mosquito-Borne Diseases. He aims to sample mosquitoes to document their diversity across Belfast.

Mosquito trap in the churchyard at St John’s, Malone.

Aidan said: “This year, as part of my work, I am planning on sampling urban churches and nearby parks across Belfast. As such I wanted to reach out for permission to sample on the property of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Parish of Malone.

“We hope to use churches and other religious sites across Belfast as standard ‘grey’ areas, as they are found in all parts of the city and serve as neighbourhood community centres and places of gathering.”

Ideally, Aidan will do his sampling once a month, between May and October. To do this, he sets up a mosquito trap in a sheltered space along the external portion of the building and collects it after 24 hours.

“This work serves as an opportunity to engage in science communication for the community, as I would be very happy to demonstrate my work and discuss biodiversity and health with any local youth or community groups that are nearby or involved with your church,” Aidan said.

“Further, it would serve as an incredible opportunity to better understand the insect biodiversity here in Belfast and would be the first such survey in over a decade.

“It may also inform public health in the city as little research on mosquito-borne disease in UK urban settings has been done outside of England, and none has been done on the island of Ireland.”