[Aspects of the aggressivity cycle of Simulium buissoni Roubaud, 1906 (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Nuku-Hiva, Marquesas Archipelago (French Polynesia)].
High density of haematophagous blackflies on Nuku-Hiva Island (Marquesas archipelago, French Polynesia) is a handicap to its optimal development. The present study contains observations from many sampling sites to examine aggressive periods of Simulium buissoni Roubaud, 1906. Density of aggressive females is very high, principally in highly irrigated sites of the island. Biting rates show low variation between days, and a diurnal activity, with a poorly pronounced circum-meridian maximum. Parity rates show great variation between sampling stations, but are lowest during the day. A hypothesis of greater spatial dispersion of nulliparous females allows explanation of much of the observed variation. Sampling in and out of a house shows exophily of blackflies. Proportion of parous females is greater in the house. Data collected over a long period show that earlier densities were greater than recent ones. Perturbation of the environment is probably the basis of this decrease.
Séchan
Y
Y
Institut de Recherches pour le Développement en Coopération (Centre IRD de Tahiti), BP 529, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, Polynésie Française. ysechan@malarde.pf
Loncke
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D010507:Periodicity; D011114:Polynesia; D011156:Population Density; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity