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Studies of winds and weather during migrations of Simulium damnosum Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae), the vector of onchocerciasis in West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. I. Magor  and
L. J. Rosenberg
J. I. Magor
Affiliation:
Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, UK
L. J. Rosenberg
Affiliation:
Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ, UK
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Abstract

Reports of the presence and absence of biting by Simulium damnosum Theo. in the Volta River Basin in 1962, 1966 and 1975 were used to identify occasions when sites were invaded by parous and nulliparous females. Circumstantial evidence suggests that this insect is a wind-borne migrant, and the weather before and during some of these invasions was examined. Although most invasions studied took place south of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone, for the first time evidence is presented suggesting that migration also takes place to the north of this zone. Immigrants were captured at the invaded sites only when light winds or calms were present. This cannot, however, be used as proof that S. damnosum migrates and lands only where winds are light or it is calm because host-seeking is inhibited by high winds and the time of arrival, as opposed to capture on a host, is unknown. Until the factors initiating emigration, as well as the height, duration and number of flights in each gonotrophic cycle and the time of immigration are known, the present findings cannot be tested rigorously nor can wind records be used to trace the source of immigrants.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 70 , Issue 4 , December 1980 , pp. 693 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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