Population surveys and control of mosquitoes in the Greater Winnipeg area

Abstract

A survey was made on the control methods used by the Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement District. It was found that a pre-season application of DDT gave much better results than spraying during the mosquito breeding season. Light trap catches over the past two years have shown that mosquito controls eliminated up to 90 percent of infestations in the area. Tests have indicated that the top minnow, Gambusia affinis, cannot overwinter in this climate. Tests have shown that no resistance to DDT has developed in the mosquitoes of the Winnipeg area. Mosquitoes were successfully tagged with rhodamine-B. Attempts were made to study flight range and habits. Attempts to establish a colony of prairie Aedes mosquitoes were unsuccessful. The limiting factor was the refusal of the mosquitoes to mate in captivity.