Ovitrap surveys of dengue vector mosquitoes in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand: seasonal shifts in relative abundance of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti

Abstract

Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were surveyed using ovitraps in residential areas in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Egg populations (both species inclusive) remained low in the dry season, but increased/decreased exponentially during the first/latter half of the rainy season, respectively. This seasonal pattern was similar to the seasonal distribution of dengue haemorrhagic fever cases in the area. During the dry season (November-March) Ae. aegypti was dominant in urban and indoor ovitraps. With onset of the rainy season in April, relative abundance of Ae. albopictus increased in rural and outdoor ovitraps. Ae. albopicutus displaced Ae. aegypti in the latter half of the rainy season in the rural area. Possible mechanisms to account for this seasonal decline of Ae. aegypti and reciprocal fluctuations in relative abundance of Ae. albopictus are discussed in relation to food availability for larvae in container habitats.