Immature mosquitoes associated with urban parklands: Implications for water and mosquito management

LAURA QUIROGA; SYLVIA FISCHER; NICOLÁS SCHWEIGMANN

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION

AMER MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOC

Lugar: California; Año: 2013 vol. 29 p. 27 - 32

8756-971X

The aim of the present study was to compare two urban habitat types: pools artificially filled with water from damaged or leaking water pipes (AF) and pools naturally filled by rain water (NF), with regard to their favorability as breeding sites for mosquitoes. Two study areas were analyzed, one for five months and the other for nine months, covering the whole period when AF pools contained water. The AF pools held water during the entire study, and showed lower fluctuations in surface area than NF pools. The AF pools showed higher levels of total mosquitoes and of stagnant-water mosquitoes. The floodwater mosquitoes were numerically (but not significantly) more abundant in NF pools. Nine mosquito species were identified. Habitat type, temperature and season were significant in explaining the variability in species composition according to CCA. The most abundant species were Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (predominantly in NF pools), Culex dolosus and Culex pipiens (mainly in AF pools). The latter two species differed in their temporal dynamics, with Culex dolosus associated with lower temperatures and Culex pipiens with higher temperatures. Overall, the results indicate that although both habitat types harbored immature mosquitoes, the AF pools were more favorable than co-occurring rain pools. Easy-to-implement management actions such as the design of adequate drainage systems and the fast repair of the broken pipes will be helpful to reduce the risk of human illness associated with mosquitoes in urban green areas.