4: Container Aedes spp. skip-oviposition behavior as detected in a field evaluation and assessed in laboratory trials

Container breeding Aedes spp. mosquitoes display a propensity to lay eggs among multiple sites during a single gonotrophic cycle in a behavior known as “skip-oviposition.” We evaluated the fine-scale landscape distribution of Aedes albopictus utilizing oviposition cups (ovitraps) and observed many skip-oviposition events inside and outside a forested section of the sample grid. We concluded that initial oviposition often occurs within forested sites with only second or later oviposition events outside of the forest. We further assessed skip-oviposition behavior in laboratory experiments comparing Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Aedes triseriatus. The behavior is present in all three species; however, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus spread eggs to a higher degree than Ae. triseriatus. Additionally, egg spreading behavior increases for both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus under poor quality oviposition conditions. Collectively, we found evidence indicating that skip-oviposition behavior is best targeted within forested sections of a treatment area in using ovitraps for control. Furthermore, autodissemination techniques that rely on this behavior are unlikely to affect Ae. triseriatus due to their lower skip-oviposition behavior.