SKIP OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR OF LABORATORY, FIELD AND TRANSGENIC STRAIN OF AEDES AEGYPTI (L.)

The oviposition behavior of 3 strains of Aedes aegypti (L.) namely, laboratory-reared, field collected and transgenic strain was studied. Newly emerged mosquitoes mated before first blood feeding. The time for the mating varied from 8 to 11 hours after emerging while time for first blood meal was similar in the three strains. All 3 strains of Ae. aegypti females preferred to lay eggs in the afternoon. Their capability of oviposition was 2-3 folds higher than that in the morning. The oviposition behavior response to different conspecific egg densities was similar in the three strains. Ae. aegypti preferred to lay eggs in breeding sites with low egg density of 5-10 eggs. When the choice for selecting oviposition site was denied, the skip oviposition behavior disappeared. This study indicated that 95% of Ae. aegypti laid all the eggs within 72 hours. There was also no difference in oviposition behavior when a particular strain of Ae. aegypti was provided with eggs of a different strain.