SURVIVAL OF INSECTS IN THE WHEEL BAYS OF A BOEING-747B AIRCRAFT ON FLIGHTS BETWEEN TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE AIRPORTS

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  • 1 January 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (5) , 659-662
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Culex quinquefasciatus), house flies (Musca domestica), and flour beetles (Tribolium confusum) located in cages within the wheel bays of a Boeing 747B aircraft, survived travel on the following normal commercial routes: Sydney-Melbourne; Melbourne-Singapore; Singapore-Bangkok; Bangkok-Singapore; and Singapore-Melbourne. Survival of all three species was high, averaging 84% for mosquitoes and higher for flies (93%) and beetles (>99%). Although external temperatures were -42.degree.C to -54.degree.C for aircraft cruising at 10 700-11 900 m, minimum temperatures within the wheel bays ranged from +8.degree.C to +25.degree.C.