Abstract
The influence of various meteorological conditions on host seeking and blood feeding in Prosimulium mixtum and Simulium venustum/verecundum complex was investigated. Host-seeking activity was markedly depressed when wind speeds, temperatures, saturation deficits, or light intensities fell outside of certain optimal ranges. Of the meteorological factors measured, temperature and wind speed appeared to have the greatest influence on host seeking. Midrange temperature (average of maximum and minimum values) over the previous 24 h was the meteorological factor most strongly correlated with blood feeding. Regression analysis indicated that blood feeding increased by ca. 3% for every 1 °C rise in midrange 24-h temperature from 8 to 22 °C.
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