Effects of forced egg-retention in Aedes albopictus on adult survival and reproduction following application of DEET as an oviposition deterrent.
The insect repellent DEET (0.1% concentration), used as a mosquito oviposition deterrent in the laboratory, influenced the retention and maintenance of mature eggs by caged gravid female Aedes albopictus Skuse. This egg-retention mechanism could benefit survival because the gravid females were ultimately able to lay maintained eggs upon availability of water, but the length of forced egg-retention time reduced the number of eggs laid per female. Gravid females with retained eggs also laid a higher percentage of eggs that failed to tan, and this percentage increased with time duration of egg-retention. Percent egg hatch was not significantly affected by DEET when used as an oviposition deterrent; however, percent hatch was affected by time duration of egg-retention in both treated (exposed to DEET) and untreated (control) gravid females. The rate of egg hatch was considerably reduced after three weeks of retention; this reduction declined to zero for treated and control females at six and four weeks post-treatment, respectively. The fecundity and fertility of gravid female Ae. albopictus were affected by the time duration of forced egg-retention.
Xue
Rui-De
RD
USDA, ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, PO Box 14565, Gainesville, FL 32604, USA.
Ali
Arshad
A
Barnard
D R
DR
D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003671:DEET / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D007302:Insect Repellents; D003671:DEET