Journal of Vector Ecology (2012) 37, 49-61

Rodolfo Veronesi, Gregorio Gentile, Marco Carrieri, Bettina Maccagnani, Luisa Stermieri and Romeo Bellini (2012)
Seasonal pattern of daily activity of Aedes caspius, Aedes detritus, Culex modestus, and Culex pipiens in the Po Delta of northern Italy and significance for vector-borne disease risk assessment
Journal of Vector Ecology 37 (1), 49-61
Abstract: The increasing concern about vector-borne diseases such as West Nile disease in northern Italy motivated our analysis of data on the mosquito fauna and the seasonal and daily flight patterns collected in 1998 in the Po Valley. Collections were performed once a week from May to November, with human landing collections and CO₂ traps. Culex pipiens was present from July to October and showed a clearly unimodal nocturnal flight habit. Culex modestus appeared in July-August and showed a bimodal flight pattern, (main peak during the evening and a minor one in the morning). Aedes caspius was present from May to November (highest densities in July-August) and showed a bimodal flight pattern with a major crepuscular peak and a minor dawn peak in the morning. Aedes detritus was the most abundant species in May, with a crepuscular sharply bimodal flight pattern, particularly according to human landing collections. Sunset and sunrise time, in combination with the solar phase (that determines daylight duration and its trend of changing) were the main factors affecting flight behavior. Temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed differently affected the flight behavior of mosquito females according to the species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Romeo Bellini, Marco Carrieri, Rodolfo Veronesi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex pipiens		Italy
	Culex modestus		Italy
	Aedes caspius		Italy
	Aedes detritus		Italy