POPULATION-SIZE, PARITY STRUCTURE, AND WING LENGTH OF COQUILLETTIDIA PERTURBANS IN AN OHIO FOCUS OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

Adult female density, parity status, and wing length were determined w eekly for a population of Coquillettidia perturbans in an area enzooti c for eastern equine encephalitis virus in central Ohio. Samples were collected in CO2-baited CDC miniature light traps from the first week in June through the 2nd week of September 1992. Population density ind icated a single emergence peak during the 2nd week in July. However, p arity rates showed 2 peaks, occurring in the first week of August (70. 9% parous) and the 2nd week of September (55.3% parous), which suggest ed that there was a relatively small 2nd generation. Average wing leng th declined significantly over the season. The decline in size was neg atively correlated with average air temperature occurring at least 6 w k before the time of emergence. Despite the seasonal decline in wing l ength, the low coefficient of variation for the average wing length (5 .5) indicated relatively little variation in size. Comparison of parou s and nulliparous female wing lengths each week suggested that there w as no association between size and survival in this species.