title: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) floats for surveillance of Ochlerotatus japonicus.
abstract: Blocks of expanded polystyrene (EPS) were placed in a variety of habitats to investigate their potential as an egg-collection device for container-dwelling Aedes and Ochlerotatus species. Eggs from Ochlerotatus japonicus, Oc. triseriatus, Oc. hendersoni, and Aedes albopictus were collected with EPS floats. The float provides an inexpensive, low-maintenance alternative to the Centers for Disease Control ovitrap for sampling container-dwelling mosquito species that are important vectors of disease. Eggs collected on the floats have many potential applications, including use in routine population surveillance; detection of Oc. japonicus, Ae. albopictus, and other container-dwelling species in new areas; species distribution studies; natural transovarial transmission studies; ovipositional studies; collection of local field populations for insecticide resistance assays; assessment of adulticiding efficacy; and establishment of new laboratory colonies.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Entomology, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, USA.
authors.forename: Jamesina J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Wayne J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Crans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004777:Environment; D009515:New Jersey; D044969:Ochlerotatus; D010063:Ovum; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D014867:Water