A Study on the Breeding Patterns of Toxorhynchites splendens and Aedes albopictus in the Natural Environment

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the breeding patterns of Toxorhynchites and Aedes mosquitoes in Kesbawa in the District of Colombo. The number of Ae. albopictus larvae per tyre dropped markedly with increasing number of Tx. splendens larvae per tyre (Pearson correlation = -0.S88, P<O.OS). Ae. albopictus pupae per tyre with a weekly average of 6.7 was recorded in the presence of Tx. splendens larvae with a value of 1.7 weekly average. Tx. splendens larvae per tyre per visit showed positive linear correlation with temperature (Pearson correlation= 0.622, P<O.OS), negative linear correlation with rainfall (Pearson correlation = - 0.S21, P<O.OS) and there was no linear correlation with relative humidity (Pearson correlation= 0.020, P>O.OS). Container Indices (CI) of SO.OO% and 12.S0% for cement tanks and tyres respectively were recorded for Tx. splendens while the respective values for Ae. albopictus amounted SO.OO%and 62.S0%. For discarded receptacles and others such as bird Bandaranayaka, De Silva and Wickraniasinghe baths the values were respectively 2.45% and 0% for Tx. splendens and 27.87% and 50.00% for Ae. albopictus.