Journal of Medical Entomology (2012) 49, 1328-1338

An T. Nguyen, Amanda J. Williams-Newkirk, Uriel D. Kitron and Luis F. Chaves (2012)
Seasonal weather, nutrients, and conspecific presence impacts on the southern house mosquito oviposition dynamics in combined sewage overflows
Journal of Medical Entomology 49 (6), 1328-1338
Abstract: Combined sewage overflows have created favorable conditions for the establishment of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), larvae in natural creeks that would otherwise be unsuitable for the development of this mosquito species. Here, we show the results from a seminatural experiment carried over the three seasons of mosquito activity (spring, summer, and fall) in Tanyard Creek, Atlanta, GA. In this study we manipulated the amount of nutrients by further enriching combined sewage overflow water, and tracked weather variables, organic nutrient concentration, exposure time to conspecifics, and the number of egg rafts collected in experimental containers. We found season and nutrient enrichment to be the most important variables explaining the differences in egg rafts counts. Further analyses suggest that temperature may also play a role in seasonal oviposition patterns. The results from this study suggest that nutrient enrichment and adequate temperatures are important factors shaping Cx. quinquefasciatus oviposition seasonality in combined sewage overflows.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Luis Fernando Chaves

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex quinquefasciatus		U.S.A. (SE)