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Seasonal Distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni (Theobald) Immatures in Plant Axils of Araceae and Musaceae in Uganda

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Abstract

The relationship between axil age and water-holding capacity on the presence and age of immatures of Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni (Theobald) complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in cultivated banana, Musa spp. (Musaceae), Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Araceae) during the rainy and dry seasons at different locations in Uganda is presented. On Musa spp., higher, younger axils were found to contain more water than older Qnes. In some seasons these axils held more immatures of Aedes simpsoni complex than the lower, older axils of the plant. On C. esculenta and X. sagittifolium plants, the middle and lower axils held more water, and had a greater abundance of larvae and pupae. There were generally no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the mean age of larvae and pupae found in axils of different ages.

Résumé

Les relations entre l’âge des aisselles de feuilles de bananier Musa spp., (Musaceae), Colocasia esculenta et Xanlhomonas sagittifolium (Araceae), et leur capacité de rétention d’eau ainsi que la présence du complexe des stades immatures de Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), ont été étudiées au cours des saisons pluvieuse et sèche, en différentes localités de l’Uganda. Il fut remarqué chez le bananier que les aisselles des feuilles supérieures c’est-à-dire les plus jeunes retenaient plus d’eau que les veilles. De même, à certaines saisons, ces aisselles supérieures logeaient plus de stades immatures de A. simpsoni en comparaison des aisselles inférieures. Chez Colocasia esculenta et X. sagittifolium, les aisselles inférieures et moyennes retenaient plus d’eau et logeaient une forte quantité de larves et pupes. Il n’y avait généralement pas de différence significative (P > 0,05) entre l’âge moyen des larves et pupes trouvées dans les aisselles de différents âges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Arbovirology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, P. O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda

    Julius Julian Lutwama

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  1. Julius Julian Lutwama
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Correspondence to Julius Julian Lutwama.

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Lutwama, J.J. Seasonal Distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni (Theobald) Immatures in Plant Axils of Araceae and Musaceae in Uganda. Int J Trop Insect Sci 18, 105–112 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400007736

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