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Comparison of Ovitrap Types in Sampling Container-Breeding Species

Oc. triseriatus, Oc. japonicus, and Ae. albopictus in Southern NY State Sabrina L. Ferrara, Richard C. Falco, Thomas J. Daniels, John E. Kokas

Louis Calder Center – Biological Field Station, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504

Abstract: Three commonly used mosquito ovitraps types and their corresponding oviposition substrates were evaluated for their efficacy in trapping eggs of the container-breeding mosquito species Oc.

triseriatus, Oc. japonicus and Ae. albopictus. The traps were (1) black plastic cup lined with germination paper, (2) black spray-painted can with scored wooden tongue depressor, and (3) black plastic cup

with red velour paper strip. Three of each trap type were set-up at three sites throughout southern New York State and sampled weekly for a five-week period between June and August. The eggs collected by

each trap type were counted and hatched for larval identification. The germination paper ovitrap collected significantly more total eggs than both the tongue depressor and velour paper ovitraps, and

resulted in significantly more larvae than the tongue depressor trap. The velour substrate collected significantly more total eggs per unit area and resulted in significantly more total larvae per unit area than

both other substrates. Oc. triseriatus was found to have an oviposition preference for both the velour paper and tongue depressor, as significantly more larvae per unit area resulted from these substrates. Oc.

japonicus avoided the tongue depressor, as no larvae resulted from this substrate. Substrate preference for Ae. albopictus could not be determined from this study.

Introduction:

• Mosquito surveillance is used to assess the population distribution of mosquitoes, and is

important in controlling vector-borne diseases

• Oc. triseriatus, Oc. japonicus and Ae. albopictus are all container-breeding

mosquitoes that lay their eggs singularly

• Only Oc. triseriatus is native to North America while both Oc. japonicus and Ae.

albopictus are invasive

Methods:

• 3 replicates each containing 1 tongue depressor ovitrap, 1 velour paper ovitrap, 1

germination paper ovitrap were set-up at 3 sites: Calder Center (Armonk, NY), Sheldrake

Park (Larchmont, NY), Rail Trail (Orangeburg, NY)

• Oviposition substrates collected weekly for five weeks and stored in plastic boxes to dry

• After one week the substrates were flooded in individual containers

• Larvae were raised to fourth instar for identification to species

Stick

Velour

Germ

Research Questions:

Which ovitrap– (1) black plastic cup lined

with germination paper, (2) black spray-

pained can with scored wooden tongue

depressor, and (3) black plastic cup with red

velour strip– is most effective?

Which oviposition substrate– germination

paper, scored wooden tongue depressor or

red velour paper– is most effective?

Do any of the 3 species (Oc. triseriatus, Oc.

japonicus or Ae. albopictus) show a

preference for trap type?

3121

3881

5602

Stick Trap

Velour Trap

Germ Trap

Total Eggs per Trap Type

• Significant effect of trap type on total eggs

collected (p=0.0055)

• Square root transformation, one-way ANOVA

1589

2252

1985

75

463

48

58

59

Stick Trap

Velour Trap

Germ Trap

Total Larvae per Trap Type TRI JAP ALB

• Significant effect of trap type on total larvae

collected (p=0.0392)

• Non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis Test)

• Significant effect of trap type on eggs per mm2

(p< 0.0001) and larvae per mm2 (p< 0.0001)

• Non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis Test)

289

431

87

154

266

39

Stick

Velour

Germ

Total Eggs and Larvae per Unit Area by Trap Type larvae per mm eggs per mm2

2

147

250

31

0

8

7

4

6

1

Stick

Velour

Germ

Species per Unit Area by Trap Type ALB/mm JAP/mm TRI/mm2 2

2

• Significant effect of trap type on Oc. triseriatus & Oc.

japonicus larvae per mm2 (p<0.0001), non-significant

effect of trap type on Ae. albopictus larvae per mm2

(p=0.9857)

• Non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis Test)

Conclusions:

• Cup with germination paper trap is most effective

• Velour is the most effective substrate

• Oc. triseriatus prefer the velour and tongue depressor

substrate equally over the germination paper

• Oc. japonicus avoids ovipositing on tongue depressor

• Ae. albopictus preference could not be determined

References:

Andreadis TG, Thomas MC, Shepard JJ. 2005. Identification guide to the mosquitoes

of Connecticut. New Haven, CT: The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Deschamps TD. 2005. A preliminary study of the attractiveness of ovitrap cups in collecting

container species in Massachusetts. Northborough, MA: The Commonwealth of

Massachusetts State Reclamation & Mosquito Control Board.

Trexler JD, Apperson CS, Schal C. 1998. Laboratory and field evaluations of oviposition

responses of Aedes albopictus and Aedes triseriatus (diptera: Culicidae) to oak leaf

infusions. J Med Entomol 35(6):967.

Walker N. 1992. The eastern treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus. Wing Beats 3(2):17.

Acknowledgments: I would like to thank my advisors Dr. Richard Falco and Dr. Thomas Daniels for

their mentorship as well John Kokas for his guidance in larval identification and

Amy Isenberg of RDCOH for her assistance in setting up traps. I would also like

to thank the Louis Calder Center of Fordham University for hosting this program

and the National Science Foundation for their funding.

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