DISPERSAL AND FLIGHT RANGE OF SUBARCTIC MOSQUITOES MARKED WITH RADIOPHOSPHORUS

Abstract

The dispersal and flight range of the mosquito Aedes communis, a species characteristic of the northern coniferous forest, were studied at timberline at Churchill, Man., during the summer of 1950. Four million larvae were collected and reared in wooden tanks containing 0.05 μc. of P32 per larva. About 3,000,000 adults with an average radioactivity of 775 c.p.m. emerged and dispersed in the Warkworth area. One hundred and forty-one radioactive mosquitoes were recovered, of which 63 had dispersed from 150 ft. to 5000 ft., the average dispersal being 500 ft. The effective dispersal was determined to be about 0.25 miles. This study indicates that A. communis is a relatively sedentary mosquito and has a limited flight range in the northern coniferous forest in comparison with arctic tundra species. This mosquito rests in vegetation and does not attack human beings during the daytime. Additional data are presented on the habits of this and other northern species of mosquitoes.