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Influence of Substrate Color on Oviposition Behavior, Egg Hatchability, and Substance of Egg Origin in the Mosquito Anopheles sinensis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Abstract

Understanding the factors that influence the choice of substrate for oviposition by the malaria mosquito is critical to efforts directed to the management of the disease and vector control measures aimed at modifications of larval habitat. The influence of black and white substrates on Anopheles sinensis (Wiedemann) (Culicidae: Anophelinae) female oviposition behavior and egg-hatching rate and the presence of substances associated with egg laying were studied. Results from the no-choice tests showed that the number of eggs laid on black substrate was significantly greater than that laid on white substrate. Results from the dual-choice tests revealed that gravid females showed stronger preference for the black substrate than that for the white substrate. Furthermore, the egg-hatching rate on white substrate was significantly lower than that observed on black substrate. Results from the three-choice tests showed that substance of egg origin was associated with the black substrates (UBS) that were attractive for and stimulated oviposition. The results of this study suggest that there might be some compounds in the black substrates which play a positive role in the oviposition behavior of female mosquitoes and in the development of eggs and that eggs might produce and release active substances that attract females and stimulate oviposition. These results could be important as regards to the optimization of mosquitoes raised for experimental purposes and the control of malaria mosquitoes by altering the oviposition behavior of gravid females.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Disease Control Center of Shanghai for the supply of A. sinensis eggs and Prof. Changju Yang for supplying the incubator. The experiments complied with the current laws of China. This research was supported by Hubei Excellent Youth Talents Foundations (2005ABB011) and the Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Ministry of Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei Univ, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

    Y L Liu

  2. Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural Univ, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    X Z Zhai & H Y Zhang

  3. Biology Department, Federal Univ of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    A R Oluwafemi

Authors
  1. Y L Liu
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  2. X Z Zhai
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  3. A R Oluwafemi
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  4. H Y Zhang
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Correspondence to H Y Zhang.

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Edited by Eunice AB Galati – FSP/USP

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Liu, Y.L., Zhai, X.Z., Oluwafemi, A.R. et al. Influence of Substrate Color on Oviposition Behavior, Egg Hatchability, and Substance of Egg Origin in the Mosquito Anopheles sinensis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Culicidae). Neotrop Entomol 43, 483–487 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-014-0236-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-014-0236-7

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