Estacionalidad poblacional de los estados inmaduros de Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Population seasonality of the immature stages of Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aedes albifasciatus, a floodwater mosquito, is widely distributed in freshwater habitats in Argentina. At high population densities it is an important pest in urban areas. A two year study was conducted in a natural population of A. albifasciatus around La Plata area, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The breeding site was weekly sampled from May, 1996 to April, 1998. Immature stages of A. albifasciatus were collected with a standard 300 ml dipper. Each sample unit consisted of 100 dipper. Highest densities of mosquito larvae occurred when the breeding site was flooded among 90 and 100 porcent of its capacity after remaining dry for severa days or weeks. The larvae required between six and eight days to become adult in summer (temperature mean 24.6§C in January and 21.3§C in Febrary). In autumn-winter, 43 days (temperature mean 10.6§C) and in spring 22 days (temperature mean 15.5§C). Key words Neotropical Culicidae, Aedes albifasciatus, mosquito larvae, Argentina