Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T04:05:52.439Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adejokun, J. A. (1966). The three dimensional structure of the Inter Tropical Discontinuity (I.T.D.) over Nigeria.—Tech. Notes. Niger. met. Serv. no. 39, 2–7.Google Scholar
Asecna. (1966). Résumé mensuel des observations au sol. Février 1966.—38 pp. Dakar, ASECNA, Direction de l'Exploitation Météorologique.Google Scholar
Crosskey, R. W. (1956). The distribution of Simulium damnosum Theobald in northern Nigeria.—Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 50, 379–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Disney, R. H. L. (1970). The timing of the first blood meal in Simulium damnosum Theobald.—Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 64, 123–128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duke, B. O. L. (1968). Studies on factors influencing the transmission of onchocerciasis. V.—The stages of Onchocerca volvulus in wild ‘forest’ Simulium damnosum, the fate of the parasites in the fly, and the age-distribution of the biting population.—Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 62, 107–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garms, R. (1976). Problem on the Leraba-Bandama in 1976. Summary of studies on reinvasion.—Working Group on Reinvasion Problem and Identification of Research Priorities.—20 pp. Geneva, World Health Organisation (OCP/SAP/76/WP.4).Google Scholar
Garms, R., Walsh, J. F. & Davies, J. B. (1979). Studies on the reinvasion of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in the Volta River Basin by Simulium damnosum s. 1. with emphasis on the south-western areas.—Tropenmed. Parasit. 30, 345–362.Google Scholar
Häusermann, W. (1969). On the biology of Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903, the main vector of onchocerciasis in the Mahenge Mountains, Ulanga, Tanzania.—Acta trop. 26, 29–69.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. G. (1969). Migration and dispersal of insects by flight.—763 pp. London, Methuen.Google Scholar
Lamontellerie, M. (1964). Simulium damnosum Theobald (Diptera, Simuliidae) en zone de savane sèche (région de Garango, Haute-Volta). I. Réinfestation de la Volta-Blanche en début de saison des pluies.—Bull. Inst. fr. Afr. noire (Sér. A) 26, 1298–1312.Google Scholar
Lamontellerie, M. (1967). Simulium damnosum Théobald en zone de savane sèche (région de Garango, Haute-Volta) (Dipt. Simuliidae). III. Répartition des stades évolutifs au cours de l'année.—Bull. Inst. fr. Afr. noire (Sér. A) 29, 1004–1020.Google Scholar
Le Berre, R. (1966). Contribution à l'étude biologique et écologique de Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 (Diptera, Simuliidae).—Mém. ORSTOM no. 17, 204 pp.Google Scholar
Le Berre, R. & Balay, G. (1967). Repeuplement des gîtes à Simulium damnosum Th. en zone de cours d'eau non permanents.—Rapp. final. 7me Conf. techn. OCCGE 1, 279–280.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. & Taylor, L. R. (1967). Introduction to experimental ecology.—401 pp. London & New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Marr, J. D. M. (1971). Observations on resting Simulium damnosum (Theobald) at a damsite in northern Ghana.—12 pp. Geneva, World Health Organisation. (WHO/ONCHO/71.85).Google Scholar
Marr, J. D. M. & Lewis, D. J. (1964). Observations on the dry-season survival of Simulium damnosum Theo. in Ghana.—Bull. ent. Res. 55, 547–564.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ovazza, M., Ovazza, L. & Balay, G. (1965). Étude des populations de Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 (Diptera: Simuliidae) en zones de gîtes non permanents. II. Variations saisonnières se produisant dans les populations adultes et préimaginales. Discussion des différentes hypothèses qui peuvent expliquer le maintien de l'espèce dans les régions sèches.—Bull. Soc. Path. exot. 58, 1118–1154.Google Scholar
Ovazza, M., Renard, J. & Balay, G. (1967). Étude des populations de Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 (Diptera: Simuliidae) en zones de gîtes non permanents. III. Corrélation possible entre certains phénomènes météorologiques et la réapparition des femelles en début de saison de pluies.—Bull. Soc. Path. exot. 60, 79–95.Google Scholar
Patalagoity, J. (1974). Climatologie de la Côte d'Ivoire. Application á la protection aéronautique.—Publs. Dir. Exploitation mét., ASECNA no. 48, 76 pp.Google Scholar
Ramiarasoa, A. (1965). Les pluies exceptionnelles de décembre 1964 sur la Haute Volta.—Publs. Dir. Exploitation mét., ASECNA no. 11, 3 pp.Google Scholar
Voiron, H. (1966). Étude de deux perturbations typiques de saison sèche en Afrique Occidentale.—Publs. Dir. Exploitation mét., ASECNA no. 14, 13 pp.Google Scholar
Walker, H. O. (1957). Weather and climate of Ghana.—Notes Ghana met. Dep. no. 5, 44 pp.Google Scholar
Walsh, J. F. (1978). Light trap studies on Simulium damnosum s. 1. in northern Ghana.—Tropenmed. Parasit. 29, 492–496.Google Scholar
Walsh, J. F., Davies, J. B. & Le Berre, R. (1979). Entomological aspects of the first five years of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in the Volta River Basin.—Tropenmed. Parasit. 30, 328–344.Google ScholarPubMed
WHO/OCP (1973). Onchocerciasis control in the Volta River Basin Area. The distribution and biology of the vector and transmission of onchocerciasis. Report prepared for the Governments of Dahomey, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Togo and Upper Volta.—24 pp. Geneva, World Health Organization. (WHO/OCP/73.1 Annex III-1).Google Scholar
WHO/OCP (1977). Report of a working group on reinvasion during 1975–1977.—Sixth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Commitee.—10 pp. Geneva, World Health Organization.Google Scholar