Studies on the dispersal and swarming behaviour of Aedes Mosquitoes in southern Manitoba

• Main Author: Gold, David George
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/6313

The dispersal of Aedes mosquitoes was studied in southern Manitoba using both a dye and a radioactive 32P marking method. The results suggest that part of the Aedes vexans populations studied remained within 4 km of the emergence site. Part of the emerging population is migratory, as was shown by a number of marked recoveries near the edge of the trapping grid shortly after emergence. Aedes communis appears to be a sedentary species, although there is less evidence for this in the present study. The refactory period of marked Ae. vexans and Ae. communis females was studied. Both species were found to have a refractory period of 5-8 days and this appeared to affect the movement of both species by inhibiting dispersal until mating had occurred. An evaluation was made of marking and recovery methods. Dye marking was found to be superior to 32P marking because dye marking permitted one to gather information on insemination and had the potential for other studies. The New Hersey Light traps and the Chant-Baldwin 7 watt traps were found to be equally effective in collecting adult mosquitoes and varied only in the labour and time requirements in the laboratory and the field. Swarming behaviour of Ae. vexans was studied during 1975. male Ae. vexans were found to swarm in the evenings in marker swarms which were generally all Ae. vexans. Ae. vexans was found to swarm with other species in top swarms but was usually a small component of these swarms.