Relationship between environmental conditions and host-seeking activity of Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in an agroecosystem and in an urban area in Chubut, Central Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

Ochlerotatus albifasciatus is associated with aquatic environments that are frequently flooded. Awareness of blood hematophagic activity of female mosquitoes is particularly important in species which are vectors of human disease and domestic animals. The study of host-seeking activity allows us to infer the risk of transmission of these parasites. The objective of this work was to study in an agro-ecosystem and urban area of central Argentine Patagonia the relationship between the circadian rhythm of activity of host-seeking of Oc. albifasciatus, and environmental variables. During January 2003, 99 human bait catches were carried out, of which 77.8% registered at least one individual of Oc. albifasciatus. Generalised linear models were used to evaluate the relationship between Oc. albifasciatus biting activity rate and capture time, environmental humidity, air temperature, sunshine degree, wind speed, habitat type and proximity of larval habitat. The model that best explained the variation in biting activity rate included the capture time, environmental humidity, air temperature, sunshine degree and wind speed as predictor variables. Host-seeking activity was higher in the evening than in the morning or afternoon, and it was positively related to mean air temperature and environmental relative humidity (RH), but negatively to sunshine degree and wind speed. The combination of these characteristics (wind speed less than 20 km/h, environmental temperature greater than 26°C, sunshine less than 40% and (RH) greater than 50%) would provide favourable conditions to allow seeking activity and to feed on the host. The dispersion of this mosquito could be among environmental patches that present these characteristics.