An Altitude Biting Study of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Giles) and Other Associated Mosquitoes in Japan

Abstract

At Sagiyama, Japan, >Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Giles), the vector of Japanese encephalitis virus in the Fart East, was found to bite black crowned night herons (BCNH) (a species known to host the virus of .Japanese encephalitis) at all levels up to 50 feet. The biting rate was overwhelmingly higher at ground level with a decreasing biting rate up to 50 feet. Culex pipiens (L.) and C. bitaeniorhynchus (Giles) biting rates suggested the same trend as that of C. tritaeniorhynchus. Armigeres subalbatus was collected from the ground level only. Other associated mosquito species attracted to BCNH-baited traps were too few to he considered in this study. The 1956 Professional Report of the 406th Medical General Laboratory, APO 343, San Francisco, California, contains information pertaining to the relationship of the high biting rate of C. tritaeniorhynchus at ground level to susceptible nestliing birds that fell to thc ground before the age of flight. For trapping live mosquitoes at different altitude levels, aerial traps modified after that described by Magoon (1935)and Bates (1944) Were used.