GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION-ASSOCIATED WITH COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IN THE POLYNESIAN MOSQUITO, AEDES-POLYNESIENSIS MARKS 1951

The population structure of the Polynesian mosquito Aedes polynesiensi s was investigated using electrophoretic data from two polymorphic pro tein loci. Considerable differentiation was observed both within and b etween islands in different archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Austral). Gene flow evaluated by F-st estimates was independent of geographic di stance between islands but related to commercial traffic intensity. Th e results are discussed in view of recent findings on the variability of susceptibility to insecticides and of suitability as a vector for t he nematode Wuchereria bancrofti. (C) 1997 The Linnean Society or Lond on.