Daily pattern of flight activity of Aedes albifasciatus in Central Argentina

Abstract

Aedes albifasciatus is an important common mosquito in Central Argentina. Its a confirmed vector of the Western Equine Encephalitis and is responsible for loss of milk production in dairy cattle during peak populations. This paper reports the flight activity pattern of Ae. albifasciatus for different seasons, in the southern coast of the Mar Chiquita Lake (Central Argentina). Data were collected by sampling two sites between 1992 and 1993 with CDC traps and human-bait captures. Adult mosquito population density, estimated by CDC trapping and human-bait, were highly correlated. However, when compared to other species, the proportion of Ae. albifasciatus was higher in human-bait collections. Adult female populations were active only when temperature were higher than 6§C. Two daily biting peaks were observed (dusk and dawn) during the spring, summer and autumn, and only one peak during winter (around 15:00 pm). Adult abundance was significantly correlated (R²= 0.71; p<0.01) with temperature and illumination

Environmental Factors Related to the Abundance and Activity ofOchlerotatus albifasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae) in an Agricultural Landscape of Steppe Arid Climate

“…In reference to the activity pattern, the behavior of this population was similar to that observed in temperate populations (Ludueñ a et al 1995). The lower captures during midday with respect to those in the afternoon (Fig.…”

“…1), suggesting that the anthropic activity (agriculture) would substantially contribute to the reproductive success of this species. The temporary delay of adult activity from the start of the irrigation season could be because of the development time in the thermal context (Fontanarrosa et al 2000), while the early ending of adult activity respect to the end of the irrigation period could be because the temperatures were close to the thermal limit (5ЊC; Ludueñ a et al 1995).…”

“…albifasciatus is considered a diurnal species (Prosen et al 1960, Forattini 1965, its daily activity varies depending on the time of the year and the thermal conditions (Hack et al 1978, Ludueñ a et al 1995. The records in temperate and subtropical regions suggest that temperature affects the hematophagic behavior of this species.…”

Body size variation of the floodwater mosquito Aedes albifasciatus in Central Argentina

“…According to a study on Ae. albifasciatus flight activity pattern in the same area ( Ludueña Almeida & Gorla 1995b), daily density was estimated as the number of female mosquitoes captured in one hour divided by the proportion of active females within that hour; abundance was transformed using ln ( x + 1).…”

“…This paper reports temporal variation of adult female body size in Ae. albifasciatus from central Argentina, where the biology and behaviour ( Ludueña Almeida & Gorla 1995a,b), genetics ( De Souza et al . 1996a,b ) and population dynamics ( Gleiser et al .…”