Observations on the seasonal incidence and diel oviposition periodicity of Haemagogus mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Trinidad, W.I.: Part I. Haemagogus janthinomys Dyar

Abstract

The diel oviposition periodicity of sylvan Haemagogus janthinomys Dyar in the Pt. Gourde Forest, Trinidad, West Indies was monitored weekly for 53 weeks using conventional ovitraps. During the wet season (September to November 1981 and May to September 1982) a large well-defined unimodal peak occurred six to eight hours after sunrise (comprising 94% of eggs laid and 91% occurrences). During the dry season (December 1981 to May 1982), a small less-well-defined peak occurred two to four hours before sunset (comprising 6% of eggs laid). The combined data showed a diurnal oviposition pattern with eggs laid from noon to sunset. The numbers of eggs and of used ovitraps found during the wet season were significandy (P< 0·001) higher than those found during the dry season.