THE ROLE OF PASSIVE MIGRATION IN THE DISPERSAL OF RESISTANCE GENES INCULEX-PIPIENS QUINQUEFASCIATUS WITHIN FRENCH-POLYNESIA

We have investigated the distribution of resistance genes in relation to genetic structure and gene flow between various islands of French P olynesia in Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. We show that (1) resistanc e to organophosphorous insecticides, mediated by A2-B2 esterases, is p resent in all islands, (2) A2-B2 frequency decreases as distance from Tahiti increases, and (3) genetic differentiation (measured as estimat es of the F-st parameter from allozyme polymorphism) between islands i s significantly correlated to geographic distances which is also corre lated to air or sea commercial traffic. These data are discussed in re lation to A2-B2 invasion of French Polynesian islands.