Habitat selection for oviposition in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) through physical stimuli

Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) can develop its aquatic phase in artificial containers that females detect and evaluate through physical variables. The objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of colour (black, red, green and white) and container surface (177 cm2 and 57 cm2) on the oviposition response of Aedes aegypti under two light environments (sunlight and 90% shade). Two factorial experiments were performed combining the different levels of colours and diameters in each light situation. Significant differences were detected among colours in both light situations. Under sunlight, black and red traps showed differences with white and green traps, while under shadow black and red traps differed from green traps. Both trap sur- faces differed only under the shadow situation, where the oviposition response was higher for the 177 cm2 traps. Treatments with highest oviposition response in the sunlight were black and red traps of 177 cm2 , and no differences were observed between them. Under shadow, traps with greater oviposition response were black traps of 177 cm2 followed by red and white traps with the same surface. These results suggest that the colour effect would be stronger than the surface effect and the response of Aedes aegypti to colours would depend on the light environment of the traps.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Badano, Ernesto I., Regidor, Héctor A.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	spa
Published:	Asociación Argentina de Ecología 2002
Online Access:	https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1551
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