Effects of Habitat Permanence Cues on Larval Abundance of Two Mosquito Species

Abstract

Fluctuations in mosquito populations can often be correlated with the level of rainfall in the short term, however, rainfall rarely corresponds to mosquito abundance in the long term. Here, we present results of a field based mesocosm experiment designed to test how variables associated with drought influence larval abundance of two species of mosquitoes. We used two water volumes (2 and 4 l) and two drought water concentrations (high and low). The two mosquito species present in these ponds, Ochlerotatus notoscriptus and Anopheles annulipes, differed markedly in larval abundance. The number of larvae of O. notoscriptus observed was significantly greater in high drought water treatments regardless of water volume, and did not co-vary with any water chemistry parameters measured. In contrast, A. annulipes larvae were significantly more abundant in the greater water volume treatments regardless of drought water concentrations. This pattern covaried with the pH of the pond water. These results indicate that mosquito species may show variances in their oviposition site selection and larval development depending on water depth and drought history.

Ecological characterization ofAedes aegyptilarval habitats (Diptera: Culicidae) in artificial water containers in Girardot, Colombia

“…Of the several variables and interactions that could affect the establishment of larval habitat, the influence of tank water volume seems to be important. Prior studies have found that water volume is a determining factor in the selection of a laying site and in the larval development of other mosquito species, such as Anopheles annulipes (Mokany and Mokany ). This parameter should be analyzed in more detail in forthcoming studies, but nevertheless, the results found in Girardot seem to indicate that Ae.…”

“…The dissolved oxygen measured in the Girardot water tanks is not a limiting factor for Aedes sp. High concentrations of this gas may be negatively correlated with the presence of larvae (Mokany and Mokany , Tuten ). The similarity in the dissolved oxygen of the positive and negative containers is explained mainly by the location of all reservoirs under the same environmental conditions of temperature and altitude.…”

Household survey of container–breeding mosquitoes and climatic factors influencing the prevalence of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia

“…Water permanence in container habitats has been shown to highly influence mosquito abundance. The set up of plastic containers with small (2 L) and large (4 L) of water to mimic shallow and deep ponds resulted respectively in low and high prevalence of Anopheles annulipes larvae [60] . Such associations between mosquito abundance and water permanence have been also documented in dengue vectors.…”

Effect of the Volume of Organic Infusion Used in Gravid Traps for CollectingCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae)

“…quinquefasciatus egg rafts than that of the small volume pan. Mokany and Mokany (2006) noticed that Anopheles annulipes Walker, but not Ochlerotatus notoscriptus (ϭAedes notoscriptus), laid more eggs in 4 liters compared with 2 liters. They attributed this to differences in typical oviposition sites for the two species.…”