Abstract
Eye gnat population activity was determined by means of bait traps in several areas of southern California. In all areas studied Hippelates collusor (Townsend), the most annoying eye gnat in California and the other Southwestern States, was the predominant species. Its populations were noticeable from March to November in the Coachella Valley, and it was prominent from late spring to early fall in both the coastal and the inland foothill areas. H. robertsoni Sabrosky was a late-spring, summer, or early-fall species, collected in appreciable numbers in the coastal and inland foothill areas but in very low numbers in the Coachella Valley. H. pusio Loew was collected in large numbers in the coastal foothill areas, but was scarce in the inland foothills and the Coachella Valley. Both pusio and robertsoni are prevalent in cooler climates, but almost absent from the hot desert regions of California. H. dorsalis Loew is a rare species but very annoying to people wherever it is present. Although it coexists with H. collusor and other Hippelates in the Coachella Valley and other areas of California, its populations have never increased to high levels. Biological factors and specific ecological requisites may be responsible for the balance of eye gnat species as we know it at present.
Published Version
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