Artificial container mosquitoes and first record of Aedes aegypti in the islands of the Paraná Lower Delta, Argentina

CARDO MARÍA VICTORIA; ROSIN, PAULA; ANIBAL EDUARDO CARBAJO; VEZZANI D.

Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology

Elsevier

Año: 2015 vol. 18 p. 727 - 733

1226-8615

Mosquitoesin artificial containers include Aedes aegypti and the Culex pipiens complex,both recognized worldwide as vectors of diseases. The goal of this study was tocharacterize mosquito communities in water-filled artificial containers in the islandsof one of the major temperate wetlands in South America, and to assess whether Ae.aegypti is present in the area. Five domestic areas located in the insularTigre District (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) were visited monthly betweenNovember 2011 and May 2012. A total of 1,013 artificial containers (half ofthem with water) were inspected for mosquito immatures. 3,359 specimenscorresponding to seven species were collected in 88 containers. Aedesaegypti was recorded for the first time in this wetland, and in all landuse categories examined from February to May. Among the remaining six species,only Cx. dolosus and Cx. pipiens were highly abundant. 88% of themosquito positive containers were buckets, dustbins and boats, whereas highlyavailable bottles did not act as mosquito breeding habitats; the key breedingcontainer was different for each land use. The Container Index showeddifferences among land uses, materials, water capacity and volume, andinsolation levels. Generalized Linear Mixed Models suggested that theprobability of finding mosquitoes was higher for containers located in dumpsand recreational areas, made of resin/fiberglass, presenting intermediate watervolumes, and not in use if partially or totally shaded but in use for sunlit containers.Recommendations for mosquito prevention and control in the islands are proposed.