THE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIES COMPOSITION OF MOSQUITOES (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) COLLECTED DURING A ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM FROM 1976 TO 1978 IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

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Abstract
As part of a St. Louis Encephalitis Surveillance Program adult mosquitoes were collected weekly from May to September, 1976–1978 with dry ice-baited traps at 11 sites in four areas of southwestern Ontario. Thirty-four species from six genera were caught but of the 210,000 mosquitoes collected, three species, Mansonia perturbans (Walker), Aedes vexans (Meigen), and Culex pipiens Linnaeus (including C. restuans Theobald) comprised more than 90% of the catch. The greatest number of species were collected in June and July. The greatest number of mosquitoes were captured in July as the three principal species were most abundant at this time. The seasonal distributions of the nine most common species are presented and explanations suggested for the patterns of some of these. This study confirms and extends the findings of previous mosquito surveys in southwestern Ontario and should provide useful information for future programs on mosquito research and control in this region. Based on its seasonal pattern, relative abundance, SLE virus isolations and its record as an efficient vector in the USA, C. pipiens is probably an important vector of SLE in southwestern Ontario.