The factors which influence the breeding and number of Aedes detritus in the Neston area of Cheshire, UK, the production of a local mosquito forecast and public bite reporting .

摘要

Aedes detritus is an important cause of biting nuisance in the Neston area of Cheshire, UK and the Dee estuary is the site of the breeding mosquitoes. We report on a study of the ecology of Aedes detritus on the Dee estuary for the 9 years from 2011 to 2019. We describe the annual, seasonal and geographical distribution of the adult and immature mosquitoes, with peaks in late Spring and early Autumn, and how these are explained by the characteristics of the small breeding pools on the upper levels of the marshes, and their filling by high spring tides. We demonstrate that pool excavation to enlarge and deepen pools greatly reduces breeding. From these studies, we developed an online weekly forecast of the local biting nuisance, and report on the temporal and geographical distribution of the bite reports produced by the public in response.