Spatial and temporal distribution of Culex australicus Dobrotworsky and Drummond and Culex globocoxitus Dobrotworsky (Diptera: Culicidae) at the Gippsland lakes in eastern Victoria

This paper re-examines previously published data on general mosquito numbers from the Gippsland Lakes, plus additional data collected since that time, and provides greater spatial and temporal definition specifically for populations of Culex australicus Dobrotworsky and Drummond and Culex globocoxitus Dobrotworsky. A total of 6,843 Cx. australicus and 45,691 Cx. globocoxitus were collected over 1188 trap-nights from seven trap sites during trapping seasons from 1990-2001. Composition ranged from 0.2-22.5% and 0.6-39.7% of the total trap catch, for C.x. australicus and Cx. globocoxinis respectively, across all trap sites. McLennan Strait, Marlay Point and Matheson Swamp trap sites had higher mean abundances of Cx. australicus and Cx. globocoxitus relative to other trap sites, and peak densities were observed during December or January. Some variation in numbers was accounted for by lagged rainfall and temperature.