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Crepuscular biting activity of mosquitoes at Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

F. P. Amerasinghe
F. P. Amerasinghe
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Abstract

Thirty-four spedes of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected at a series of human-bait catches designed to study evening crepuscular biting activity using the Nielsen crep unit, at a site at Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Crepuscular biting profiles of seven species (Armigeres subalbatus, Aedes albopictus, Culex pseudovishnui, Cx. gelidus, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Mansonia uniformis) were obtained. Modal periods for the onset of biting were analysed in six species: Cx. pseudovishnui, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. gelidus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ma. uniformis. Successions in the biting peaks and in modal onset of biting were seen in these species. Analysis of biting in Ar. subalbatus and Cx. pseudovishnui under high (clear sky) and low (cloud-overcast sky) light intensities showed earlier biting in both species under the latter conditions. The value of the Nielsen crep unit in making latitudinal comparisons is illustrated in Ma. uniformis, for which parallel data are available from Africa.

Keywords

AedesArmigerescrepuscular biting activityCulexMansoniamosquitoesNielsen crep unitsSri Lanka
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , August 1988 , pp. 271 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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References

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