Population fluctuations of mosquitoes in the non‐seasonal tropics

Seasonal and annual fluctuations in abundance of a number of species of mosquitoes were studied in a relatively non‐seasonal climate near Almirante, Panama. The fluctuations observed were large, but did not have a period of 1 year and should be classified as non‐seasonal. At each site the various species were not synchronous in their fluctuation pattern, but the fluctuations of each species were synchronous over an area of at least 4 km long, in spite of large differences in habitat. Changes in abundance from year to year observed in these mosquitoes are large compared with those of insects, including mosquitoes, in other areas of Panama. The importance of such large and unpredictable fluctuations in abundance for planning control measures is discussed.