Observations on the breeding habitats of Aedes aegypti (L.) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT

A one-year study was done of the breeding habitats of Aedes aegypti (L.) and of the water storage habits of the inhabitants in four crowded districts of urban Jakarta. Immature mosquitoes were found in or near houses in containers of relatively clean water used for drinking or bathing purposes. An average of 185 containers were found per 100 houses, of which 60 were positive for Aedes immatures, resulting in a Container Index of 32%. The mean potential water storage capacity per house was 173 liters of which only 92 liters of water was actually being stored at any one time. Water jars were the most common containers found, but bak mandi (cuboidal or oblong concrete reservoirs) held more water per container. Total water storage per house in bak mandi was twice that of water jars and ten times that of drums, which were uncommon. Ant traps and other miscellaneous containers were unimportant for either water storage or mosquito production. A mean of 0.93 pupae per house was found, pupal production indoors being ten times than outdoors. Indoor water jars produced more pupae per house than all other containers combined. The infestation rate of covered containers was significantly higher than that of uncovered containers, perhaps because loose-fitting lids allowed entrance of gravid females to the attractive darkened interior of the container.