NATURAL HOSTS OF MOSQUITOES IN NORTHERN ELLESMERE ISLAND*

• Main Authors: Philip S. Corbett, A. E. R. Downe
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Ellesmere Island; Lake Hazen
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.577.6774; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic19-2-153.pdf

ABSTRACT. Observations on blood-feeding in nature, and precipitin tests on engorged females, N.W.T. (81°49‘N., 71”18’W.). Terrestrial vertebrates recorded from the area are listed. have been made on mosquitoes, Aedes impiger and A. nigripes, occurring near Lake Hazen, Both species of mosquitoes obtain blood in nature from musk oxen and birds (also humans); several specimens contained blood of two kinds (precipitin test determinations). Host reaction to harassment by mosquitoes is evidently a major factor determining which potential hosts are fed on successfully. On the basis of their behaviour and situation, musk oxen, and birds nesting in water-logged sites are deemed the most likely animals to provide blood. Methods for determining host preferences in the Arctic are briefly discussed. RGSUMfi. Les HGtes naturels des moustiques dans le nord de l’%le d’Ellesmere. Pres du lac Hazen, T. du N.-O. (81”49’N., 71”18’0.), les auteurs ont effectué des observations sur l’di-mentation en sang et des tests & la précipitine sur des femelles gorgées d’Aedes impiger et A. nigripes. On donne une liste des vertébrés terrestres mentionnés pour la région. Dans la nature, les deux esphces de moustiques soutirent du sang des boeufs musqués et des oiseaux (également des humains); plusieurs spécimens contiennent du sang des deux esphces (déterminations