AEDES-ALBOPICTUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) - A STATISTICAL-MODEL OF THE ROLE OF TEMPERATURE, PHOTOPERIOD, AND GEOGRAPHY IN THE INDUCTION OF EGG DIAPAUSE

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) lays eggs refractory to hatching in response to several environmental cues. The goal of this statistical treatment was to quantify the role and interaction of latitude and country of or igin (japan and the United States), photoperiod, rearing/holding tempe rature, and a newly identified element, elevation of the site of origi n, with critical photoperiod (C(pp)). We also describe the development of an equation relating the incidence of diapause to daylength, reari ng/holding temperature, and latitude and elevation of the site of orig in, an equation useful in the development of a simulation model of the population dynamics and distribution of Ae. albopictus in North Ameri ca. The analysis indicated that elevation from 0 to 300 m is significa ntly correlated with C(pp). The results also corroborate earlier concl usions that, on the basis of a shallower geographical cline in photope riodic response in the United States, North American strains of Ae. al bopictus have a temperate origin in Asia and indicate that the rapid s pread of this mosquito within the United States via the distribution o f used tires resulted in founder populations that were only partially adapted in diapause response to local conditions.