Timing of host-seeking behaviour of the mosquitoes Anopheles annulipes sensu lato Walker and Coquillettidia linealis (Skuse) (Diptera : Culicidae) in the Murray River Valley, South Australia

© 2005 Australian Entomological SocietyThe timing of host-seeking behaviour was studied in two mosquito species, Anopheles annulipes sensulato and Coquillettidia linealis at Mundic Creek, near the Upper River Murray in South Australia. Hourly sampling using carbon dioxide-baited traps revealed consistent patterns in the timing of hostseeking. Coquillettidia linealis displayed a very large peak in host-seeking activity at sunset, followed by a much reduced level throughout the night and a smaller peak at sunrise. Anopheles annulipes s.l. differed by displaying a significantly smaller peak at sunset, followed by higher amount of activity throughout the night compared with Cq. linealis. The two taxa, while both crepuscular and nocturnal, spread their host-seeking effort out differently throughout the night, indicating that they have different resource requirements.Craig R. William

Spatial and temporal definition of Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus (Thomson) (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Gippsland Lakes system of eastern Victoria

The confirmed vector of Ross River virus, Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus (Thomson), is the dominant mosquito species inhabiting saline marshes in coastal Victoria. This paper re-examines previously published data on Oc. camptorhynchus, plus additional data collected since that time, and provides greater spatial and temporal definition of Oc. camptorhynchus numbers at seven sites across the Gippsland Lakes system of eastern Victoria. A total of 357 672 Oc. camptorhynchus was captured from 1188 trap-nights across the seven trap sites during trapping seasons from 1990 to 2001. The&nbsp; dominance of Oc. camptorhynchus across the seven sites averaged 75%, with significant differences in mean abundance of Oc. camptorhynchus found between all trap sites. Significant differences in monthly abundance of Oc. camptorhynchus were observed for Wellington Shire. Increase in populations of Oc. camptorhynchus was associated with increases in rainfall at all trap sites, higher minimum temperatures at two of the seven trap sites, and wind speed at one trap site. Prioritisation of mosquito control may be applied based on spatial and temporal factors according to the findings of this study.<br /