The fauna and seasonal activity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Curonian Spit (Russia, Lithuania)

The Curonian Spit, characterized by the highest drifting sand dunes in Europe, is a 98 km long, thin, curved sand dune peninsula located in the East of the Baltic Sea. The northern stretch of the Spit belongs to Lithuania, while the rest is part of Russia. Investigations on birds and on bird haemosporidian parasites are carried on in this region. Bloodsucking dipterous insects are specific vectors of these parasites, so it is important to know the fauna and the abundance of mosquitoes in this region. Adult mosquitoes were collected by entomological net, and bloodsucking females were collected from people and birds in May– June and in August (2006–2007). Material collected by light trap in 2002 in two localities was also used. Six localities were investigated. Sixteen mosquito species were determined. The greatest diversity of mosquitoes was detected in the surroundings of the Biological station “Fringila” (D = 0.544, 8 mosquito species) and the lowest diversity was detected in Lesnoje village (D = 0.833, 5 species). Dominant species varied in different localities and during the season. The mosquito diversity was similar in June and August. Ochlerotatus cataphylla and Oc. cantans dominated in June and Culex pipiens and Aedes vexans dominated in August. The highest abundance of attacking mosquitoes in June was detected in Rybachy village. The lowest abundance of mosquitoes was in Lesnoje and in Smiltyne villages in June and August. Mosquitoes of all 16 species were collected from humans and 8 species were collected from biting birds.