Diel rhythms of oviposition and fecundity of Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera:Culicidae) under laboratory conditions.
The oviposition patterns of Anopheles aquasalis Curry collected from a grass swamp in Gloudon, Caroni Swamp, Trinidad, were studied in the laboratory by recording the egg-laying performance of 30 individuals and a group of 150 females at 2-h intervals. Oviposition was nocturnal, with a peak between 2400 and 0400 hours when 72% of the eggs were laid. Wild-caught females engorged on human blood matured 89.8 +/- 21.3 follicles (range, 50-118). These findings provide vector control workers with the opportunity to maximize the effect of adulticides on An. aquasalis populations by restricting their operations to the time of peak flight activity.
Chadee
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DD
Insect Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, St. Joseph, Trinidad, West Indies.
Mohammed
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RT
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D010058:Oviposition