Spatial heterogeneity in oviposition preference of the mosquito Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Adelaide, South Australia

Abstract

Ovitraps were used to determine the container‐breeding mosquito fauna at three sites in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, from January to May 1998. A novel ovitrap design provided a choice of four distinct, water‐filled oviposition chambers: open top/manure slurry, closed top/manure slurry, open top/pond water and closed top/pond water. The traps were hung in trees, 3–4 m above the ground, and predominantly captured one species, Aedes notoscriptus, which enabled an a posteriori analysis of maternal oviposition preferences. At site 1, Ae. notoscriptus preferred closed‐top chambers, regardless of water type, whereas chambers containing manure slurry were preferred at sites 2 and 3, regardless of whether the chambers were open or closed. It is possible that differences in the complexity of vegetation structure and extent of shading between sites (less overall shading and vegetation complexity at site 1) may have elicited phenotypic variability in maternal oviposition choice. However, genetic variability in Ae. notoscriptus between sites cannot be discounted.