Premium
Factors influencing the distribution of larval mosquitos of the genera Aedes, Culex and Toxorhynchites (Dipt., Culicidae) on Moorea
Author(s) -
Becker J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1995.tb01330.x
Subject(s) - biology , culex quinquefasciatus , larva , canopy , instar , culex , habitat , ecology , aedes , aedes aegypti
Five habitat parameters were recorded during the sampling of larvae‐positive water‐filled containers located on the north side of Moorea in French Polynesia: container type, area of container aperture, organic load, water volume, and amount of canopy cover. This survey revealed that the amount of canopy cover significantly influenced both Toxorhynchites amboinensis and Culex quinquefasciatus larval distributions. Culex quinquefasciatus preferred containers in habitats with no canopy cover or light canopy cover compared to those with heavy canopy cover. Toxorhynchites amboinensis preferred heavy‐canopy habitat over habitat with no canopy cover. In addition, C. quinquefasciatus larvae were significantly more common in high‐water‐volume sites compared to low‐water‐volume sites. None of the habitat factors were correlated with a combined Aedes polynesiensis and Aedes aegypti larval distribution. Sampling of breeding sites in coconut groves revealed that sanitation efforts were highly successful in reducing the density of fourth instar mosquito larvae (88.93 individuals/100 m 2 in unsanitized groves versus 0.36 individuals/100 m 2 in sanitized groves). In the sanitized groves, there were less breeding sites per nr and less larvae per breeding site. Sixty‐nine percent of the coconut‐grove larvae were found developing in rat‐chewed coconuts. Roadside samples revealed similar success of sanitation with lower fourth instar mosquito density along sanitized roadside.