Diel pattern of oviposition in the laboratory of the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

The diel pattern of oviposition of Aedes albopictus derived from Singapore was studied in the laboratory by recording the performance of individual females at two-hour intervals.

Oviposition was almost exclusively diurnal, about 98% of eggs being laid during the full photophase, and the rest during the 30-minute evening ‘twilight’ and the first 30 minutes of the scotophase. A large, well defined peak of oviposition (comprising about 56% of eggs laid) occurred during the two hours before sunset.

Nulliparous females allowed to engorge on human blood matured on average about 95 follicles (range 51–138).