AEDES-ALBOPICTUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) POPULATION-DENSITY AND STRUCTURE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

Pupal density, wing length at emergence, host-seeking female abundance , and host-seeking female wing length and parity were determined month ly for a population of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in a southwestern Loui siana tire dump from January 1988 through january 1989. Pupae and host -seeking females were first collected in April. Pupal densities were c onsistently high from June through September. Host-seeking female abun dance was highest during July and August. Average female wing length w as longest during spring, declined in midsummer, and increased slightl y during fall. Average wing length was negatively correlated with aver age pupal density during the month of collection and with average air temperature recorded the previous month. Host-seeking females had cons istently longer wings than emerging females, and parous host-seeking f emales had longer wings than nulliparous host-seeking females. Average wing length of the parous host-seeking females was consistently long throughout the season. Parity of host-seeking females parity was highe st during July when almost-equal-to 21 parous host-seeking females wer e collected per hour. These results indicate that seasonal patterns in immature population density influence average body size and parity st ructure in Ae. albopictus.