Journal of Vector Ecology (2003) 28, 12-22

S.S. Caglar, B. Alten, R. Bellini, F.M. Simsek and S. Kaynas (2003)
Comparison of nocturnal activities of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) sampled by New Jersey light traps and CO₂ traps in Belek, Turkey
Journal of Vector Ecology 28 (1), 12-22
Abstract: Temporal and seasonal variations in the nocturnal activities of adult females of six locally common mosquitoes, Aedes cretinus, Ochlerotatus caspius, Oc. dorsalis, Culex pipiens, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Culiseta annulata were studied at Belek, Turkey, using New Jersey light traps and CO₂ charged olfactory traps. In addition to assessing the relative value of these traps as sampling devices capable of measuring activity at different periods of the night, these studies also examined the seasonal contribution of each species to the phenology of the overall mosquito population. While statistical results showed that differences inactivation time preferences were found to be not significant for each species, the nocturnal activity profiles of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Ae. cretinus and Oc. caspius were definitely differed from those of other species. Ae. cretinus was a common species with a rate of 26.1% at 1800-2000, whereas the adult rate of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was determined to be the lowest (11.4%) at that time interval. Significant differences were found at the time intervals 18:00-20:00, 22:00-24:00 and 02:00-04:00 in the general bias of mosquito populations among different months. While the nocturnal patterns of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Ae. cretinus were found to be bimodal, it was monomodal for Oc. caspius and Cu. annulata, unimodal for Cx. pipiens and Ae. dorsalis. While 69.6% % of females captured by traps throughout the study period were found to be unfed, 24.8% were fed, 4.1 % were half-gravid and 1.4 % were gravid. Statistical results of trap preferences of Aedes species were found to be significant (P<0.05). Oc. caspius and Ae. dorsalis preferred New Jersey light traps to CO₂ traps. Light trap and CO₂ trap collections can be influenced by design features including the amount of contrast between the light sources and surroundings. These features were found to be highly significant factors for the biting activity of Cx. pipiens and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Bulent Alten, Romeo Bellini

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex tritaeniorhynchus		Turkey
	Culex pipiens		Turkey
	Culiseta annulata		Turkey
	Aedes dorsalis		Turkey
	Aedes caspius		Turkey
	Aedes cretinus		Turkey