DISPERSAL AND SURVIVAL OF AEDES-ALBOPICTUS AT A SCRAP TIRE YARD IN MISSOURI

Field-reared Aedes albopictus were marked with fluorescent pigment upo n release and recaptured with a vacuum aspirator at a scarp tire yard and in surrounding vegetation in Potosi, MO, during 1989-90. In 8 disp ersal trials, 8.1% (1,100/13,513) of the Ae. albopictus were recapture d with 84.4% (928/1,100) collected in the forest edge ecotone between 10 and 600 m from the release point. The maximum dispersal distance re corded was 525 m and 11.1% (122/1,100) dispersed further than 100 m. I n 3 survival trials, 4.8% (2,660/55,284) of the mosquitoes were recapt ured. Adult Ae. albopictus females survived an average of 8.2 days (pr obability of daily survival [PDS] = 0.89, range = 0-24) and males an a verage of 3.9 days (PDS = 0.77, range = 0-12). The dispersal and survi val capacity of Ae. albopictus adults may contribute to the spread and potential health threat of this mosquito in the USA.