Mosquito ecology in central Alberta. II. Adult populations and activities.

Abstract

Regular sampling of Aedes mosquitoes in an aspen forest in central Alberta shows that there are several peaks of abundance during the summer, each due to a different species or group of species, and that the times, amplitude, and composition of the peaks differ in two successive years. Hourly sampling over a 24-hour period shows that the mosquitoes are crepuscular, but the activity cycles of certain species show marked differences. Mosquitoes in this environment tend to remain close to the shrub layer. The factors regulating mosquito activity are discussed, and it is suggested that saturation deficiency and light intensity are the two most important environmental factors. The forest has the highest flight activity, and the willow scrubland the highest biting activity. Observations are also given on the biting activity at different levels in the forest during the afternoon, the biting activity at night and the effect of moonlight on this activity, the movement of mosquitoes into buildings, and swarms of male mosquitoes. A key to the adult female mosquitoes in the study area is included.