Dispersal and survival of Aedes albopictus at a scrap tire yard in Missouri.

Field-reared Aedes albopictus were marked with fluorescent pigment upon release and recaptured with a vacuum aspirator at a scrap tire yard and in surrounding vegetation in Potosi, MO, during 1989-90. In 8 dispersal trials, 8.1% (1,100/13,513) of the Ae. albopictus were recaptured with 84.4% (928/1,100) collected in the forest edge ecotone between 10 and 600 m from the release point. The maximum dispersal distance recorded was 525 m and 11.1% (122/1,100) dispersed further than 100 m. In 3 survival trials, 4.8% (2,660/55,284) of the mosquitoes were recaptured. Adult Ae. albopictus females survived an average of 8.2 days (probability of daily survival [PDS] = 0.89, range = 0-24) and males an average of 3.9 days (PDS = 0.77, range = 0-12). The dispersal and survival capacity of Ae. albopictus adults may contribute to the spread and potential health threat of this mosquito in the USA.