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

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 CO 2 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. Journal of Vector Ecology 37 (1): 49-61. 2012.

Artificial Light at Night Influences Clock-Gene Expression, Activity, and Fecundity in the Mosquito Culex pipiens f. molestus

“…This is likely to expose urban populations of Cx. pipiens to ALAN because this coincides with the timing of their natural flying behavior [31,32]. In many rural and urban areas, there is a temporal dividing line around midnight, after which full illumination ends as some lights are extinguished [33].…”

“…The two forms are not easily distinguished and even genetic diagnostic tests fail to separate them in some parts of their range [30]. Culex pipiens activity is typically crepuscular-nocturnal, with the daily peak of host-seeking activity having been observed to shift from night in summer to evening in autumn [31]. This is likely to expose urban populations of Cx.…”

Weather Factors Influencing the Population Dynamics ofCulex pipiens(Diptera: Culicidae) in the Po Plain Valley, Italy (1997-2011)

“…The following weather parameters were registered on a daily basis: daily minimum, average, and maximum relative humidity (RH) and the mean RH during the adult activity period (AAP RH) from 2100 to 0700 hours (Veronesi et al 2012); daily minimum, average, and maximum temperature; temperature excursion (ESC ϭ TmaxϪTmin); and rainfall. In addition, the hydroclimatic balance (HCB) was calculated on a daily temporal resolution, as follows:…”

Climate Change and Public Health Policy: Translating the Science

“…However, this global warming is telling only part of the story of climate change. Climate change also entails changes in rainfall and wind patterns and consequently relative humidity, rising sea levels and increasing UV radiation [16,17,18]. Consequently, climate change impacts land use and land cover, crop suitability and agricultural patterns and human behavior.…”

“…Changes in relative humidity in temperate zones may have minimal effects on the adult population of species that predominately inhabit wetlands, as humid shelters should remain relatively abundant. However, adult mosquitoes, inhabiting urban areas by breeding in artificial containers, are likely to be affected negatively by a decreasing relative humidity as a result of the development of urban heat islands [16]. Besides changes in precipitation, rising sea levels will affect the availability and suitability of mosquito breeding sites.…”