DIEL OVIPOSITION PATTERNS OF ANOPHELES ALBITARSIS IN TRINIDAD, WEST-INDIES

The diel pattern of oviposition of wild-caught Anopheles albitarsis de rived from rice fields in Frederick Settlement, Trinidad, was studied in the laboratory by recording the performance of egg-laying individua ls and a colony at 2-h intervals. Oviposition was almost exclusively n octurnal, with 79.3% of the eggs being laid during the scotophase. Dur ing the rest of the day and during evening twilight, 7.8 and 12.9% egg s were laid, respectively. Wild-caught parous females allowed to engor ge on human blood matured, on average, 71.1 +/- 12.4 follicles (range 53-106). These findings provide vector control personnel with the oppo rtunity to maximize the impact of insecticides on An. albitarsis popul ations by restricting their operations to the time of peak activity.