THE BLOOD-FEEDING HABITS OF AEDES SOLLICITANS (WALKER) IN RELATION TOEASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS IN COASTAL AREAS OF NEW-JERSEY .3. HABITAT PREFERENCE, VERTICAL-DISTRIBUTION, AND DIEL PERIODICITY OF HOST-SEEKING ADULTS

The relative abundance of host-seeking Aedes sollicitans (Walker) was compared among habitats that included a deciduous forest, a coniferous forest, a cedar swamp, and an abandoned field in southern New Jersey. Collections were made using dry ice baited CDC traps operated from du sk to dawn without a light source. Results indicated that significantl y more mosquitoes were collected from the field; collections in wooded habitats and roadways were considerably lower. Fewest mosquitoes were collected in the cedar bog where eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) vi rus is believed to be most prevalent. The temporal and vertical distri bution of host-seeking Ae. sollicitans were determined using dry ice b aited CDC traps placed at 0.5, 2.5, and 6.0 m above ground level on th e edge of an open field and a deciduous forest, Over the course of the investigation, 82% of the total collection was taken at the lowest le vel, 17% at the mid-level, and only 1% at the highest level. Host-seek ing activity occurred in bimodal crepuscular peaks during the summer a nd early fall. Later in the season, host-seeking was reduced to a sing le peak prior to sunset, presumably the result of decreasing temperatu res. Results suggest that habitat preference and vertical distribution strongly influence the mammalian blood-feeding habits of this species in nature. The reported paucity of avian blood meals in this mosquito may be due to a spatial disassociation between the mosquito and tree- roosting birds. The results are discussed in relation to Ae. sollicita ns potential as a vector of EEE virus.