Reassessing Aedes albopictus oviposition: Influence of trap colour and water source

Azlinda Abu Bakar; Marni Darwisya Marhadi; Nurul Izzati Asrefendi.

Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, remain a significant public health threat despite ongoing control efforts. Their adaptability to environmental changes has contributed to the continued rise in disease incidence. This study aims to evaluate and update the oviposition preferences of Aedes albopictus with respect to ovitraps colour and water sources across various sites at Universiti Sains Malaysia. The experiment tested five ovitraps colours: black, blue, green, orange, and red, alongside four water sources: rainwater, pond water, seasoned tap water, and distilled water. Over the study period, 2,640 eggs were collected, revealing significant differences (P<.05) in oviposition preferences for both ovitraps color (P = 0.012) and water source (P = 0.049). Black ovitraps attracted the highest number of eggs (672), followed by red (609), orange (410), blue (233), and green (190). Among the water sources, rainwater was most preferred (788 eggs), followed by pond water (725), seasoned tap water (630), and distilled water (497). Location 3 (School of Biological Sciences) recorded the highest egg count (972 eggs), although location differences were not statistically significant (P=0.434). Correlation analysis indicated a positive association between mosquito oviposition and water temperature (rs = 0.638; P = 0.047, P< .05). These findings highlight the importance of considering both ovitraps’ colour and water source in mosquito surveillance and control strategies, as these factors significantly influence the oviposition behaviour of Ae. albopictus. The results contribute valuable insights into optimizing ovitrap designs and selecting suitable water sources for more effective mosquito management in urban and suburban environments.

KEYWORDS: DAedes albopictus, oviposition preferences, ovitrap colour, water sources, vector control strategies



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