Medical and Veterinary Entomology (1999) 13, 423-430

H.F. Chapman, J.M. Hughes, C. Jennings, B.H. Kay and S.A. Ritchie (1999)
Population structure and dispersal of the saltmarsh mosquito Aedes vigilax in Queensland, Australia
Medical and Veterinary Entomology 13 (4), 423-430
Abstract: Population genetics of the mosquito Aedes vigilax (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), a major vector of arboviruses (e.g. Barmah Forest, Ross River), were investigated to obtain an indirect estimate of mosquito dispersal characteristics in typical habitats of Aedes vigilax in south-east Queensland: on the off-shore islands of Moreton Bay and on the mainland where disjunct breeding populations of Ae. vigilax are distributed along intertidal marsh. Six allozyme loci were assessed for genetic differentiation between samples from 11 localities. Significant larval variation between some breeding sites was attributed to site-specific selection. Non-significant genetic differentiation was found among collections of adult mosquitoes caught in light traps throughout the study area (exceeding 60 × 27 km), indicating widespread dispersal. As distances of < 9 km over water did not appear to act as effective barriers to Ae. vigilax dispersal, localized control activities applied to Ae. vigilax breeding sites are unlikely to be effective against the vagile adult population. Therefore, the contiguous shires programme of broad acre control is endorsed to prevent the spread of arboviruses carried by Ae. vigilax.
(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): Scott A. Ritchie, Brian H. Kay

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aedes vigilax		Australia (NT+QLD)