Monitoring Temporal Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Aedes polynesiensis using BG-Sentinel Traps in Neighboring Habitats on Raiatea, Society Archipelago, French Polynesia

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology 2012-01, Vol.49 (1), p.51-60
• Main Authors: Mercer, David R., Bossin, Herve, Sang, Michel Cheong, O'Connor, Linda, Dobson, Stephen L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adult size variation; Aedes - physiology; Aedes aegypti; Aedes polynesiensis; Aedes polynesiensis population dynamic; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Control systems; Culex - physiology; Culex quinquefasciatus; Demecology; Ecosystem; Female; filariasis vector; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Larva - physiology; Male; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Mosquito Control - instrumentation; Mosquitoes; Polynesia; Population Dynamics; Pupa - physiology; SAMPLING, DISTRIBUTION, DISPERSAL; seasonality; Seasons; Time Factors; trap sampling; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; Weather
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928; 0022-2585
• DOI: 10.1603/ME11087

Adult numbers and sizes of mosquitoes were monitored for 2 yr in neighboring habitats on the western coast of Raiatea (Society Archipelago) in anticipation of testing new vector control technologies. Aedes polynesiensis Marks females comprised the overwhelming majority (≈99%) of the three species of mosquitoes captured in Biogent Sentinel traps placed at fixed sites on three small satellite islands (motus) of the western lagoon and on the shoreline of Raiatea. Aedes polynesiensis males, Aedes aegypti (L.), and Culex quinquefasciatus Say rarely were collected. Numbers of Ae. polynesiensis females per collection differed among trapping dates and locations, with the majority of females captured on two motus, Horea and Toamaro. Shoreline and Horea females had significantly longer mean wing lengths than females from Tiano and Toamaro. Thus, wing lengths were influenced more by local developmental conditions than overall numbers of adults. Significantly more females were captured during the wet season than the dry season. Nonetheless, at least on the two highly productive motus, dry-season females had larger wing lengths than their wet season counterparts. Local weather patterns predicted about half the variation in mosquito numbers. Differences in vector abundance observed when comparing neighboring motus are likely because of differences in human activity and mosquito suppression.