Population structure and dispersal of the saltmarsh mosquito Aedes vigilax in Queensland, Australia

摘要

The population genetics of A. vigilax were investigated in 1995-96 to obtain an indirect estimate of mosquito dispersal characteristics in typical habitats of A. vigilax in south-east Queensland: on the off-shore islands of Moreton Bay and on the mainland where disjunct breeding populations of A. 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 wasattributed 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 X 27 km), indicating widespread dispersal. As distances of <=9 kmover water did not appear to act as effective barriers to A. vigilax dispersal, localized control activities applied to A. vigilax breeding sites are unlikely to be effective against the vagile adult population. Therefore, the contiguous shires programmeof broad acre control is endorsed to prevent the spread of arboviruses carried by A. vigilax.