ECOLOGY OF AEDES-DORSALIS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) IN RELATION TO WESTERNEQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA

The ecology of western equine encephalomyelitis virus (WEE) was studie d during 1994-1996 along a portion of the north shore of the Salton Se a in Coachella Valley, California, known to support a focal Aedes dors alis (Meigen) population. WEE was detected during 1995 by the seroconv ersion of sentinel chickens concurrently at sites within and outside o f the area supporting Ae. dorsalis. WEE was not detected during 1994 o r 1996; neither was WEE detected by seroconversion of sentinel rabbits nor by isolation from host-seeking females of either the primary vect or, Culex tarsalis Coquillett (42,083 females tested in 913 pools), or Ae. dorsalis (10,804 females tested in 245 pools and 1,940 adults rea red from field-collected immatures tested in 72 pools). Collectively, the results of this and previous investigations indicate that Ae. dors alis may not be essential for the maintenance or amplification of WEE virus in southeastern California.