Tree holes as larval habitats for Aedes aegypti in urban, suburban and forest habitats in a dengue affected area.

CAROLINA MANGUDO, JUAN P. APARICIO RAQUEL M. GLEISER

BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2015 vol. 105 p. 679 - 684

0007-4853

Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae), the main vector of dengue and urban yellowfever in the world, is highly adapted to the human environment. Artificial containersare the most common larval habitat for the species, but it may develop in tree holesand other phytotelmata. This study assessed whether tree holes in San Ramón de laNueva Orán, a city located in subtropical montane moist forest where dengue outbreaksoccur, are relevant as larval habitat for Ae. aegypti and if the species may befound in natural areas far from human habitations. Water holding tree holes weresampled during 3 years once a month along the rainy season using a siphon bottle,in urban and suburban sites within the city and in adjacent forested areas. Larvae andpupae were collected and the presence and volume of water in each tree hole wererecorded. Finding Ae. aegypti in forested areas was an isolated event; however, thespecies was frequently collected from tree holes throughout the city and along thesampling period. Moreover, larvae were collected in considerably high numbers,stressing the importance of taking into account these natural cavities as potential reinfestationfoci within dengue control framework.