: ate , ~! tn wee pare me, Te . . nti ~ . oe . - 4 oot + i ow 1 inant:sabesnailed en . - Ay by th | 4 EFF “March 1977 Ot Chief, Fnewetak Planning Group | at Medical Entomology Survey Officer t: Medical Entomological Surveillance of Fnewetek Atoll 1. GENERAL: a. | a Lb E BEST COPY AVAILABL By the direction of DASG a medical entotological survey was conducted on selected coral islets of the Enewetak Atoll to determine all real and potential entomological problems to be encountered during cleanup operations. Biologically and ecologically the islets aru still evebyinp-and: represent a fragile and unstable biological community. The introduction of higher animal life forms has been artificial. This situation has allowed a mumber of species to inhabit the istets unchecked by natural predation. A variety of factors have successfully limited the t!-e establishment of various pests. d. 1) Limited accessability of the islets. 2) High winds. 3) Limited land area, breeding sites, appropriate food sources and harborage. These factors have, for the most part, restricted the establishment of medically important arthropoda on the islets. 2. METHODOLOGY: a. A total of 12 islets were selected for surveillance. Selection was based on the following criteria: 1) Size. 2) Vegetation and structural harborage. 3) Operational aspects related to cleanup mission, 4) S)} Information provided by Mid Pacific Marine Laboratory civilians and natives. , (MPML) Information provided by engineers surveying various islets. >