Effect of Coloring Oviposition Media with Regard to the Mosquito Aedes triseriatus (Say)

Abstract

The author shows that Aedes triseriatus females respond to wavelengths in the blue portion of the visible spectrum at the time of egg deposition. Other regions of the visible spectrum are not attractive in the absence of blue at the time of egg deposition. Females are attracted to the oviposition medium with the greatest degree of darkness, or optical density, when presented a group of colors with various transmittance properties. The females were able to detect small differences in concentration of color in the oviposition media. There may be some evolutionary significance in the female''s response to media with higher optical densities. It may be a genotypic response to indications of a more favorable larval habitat in terms of stability, food, or both, and may be one of the factors limiting the larval habitat to tree holes.