DO FISH REPEL OVIPOSITION BY AEDES-TAENIORHYNCHUS

We tested the hypothesis that fish indirectly control mosquitoes by re pelling oviposition. Aedes taeniorhynchus oviposition in mangrove fore sts, natural pools, and excavated pools with different concentrations of fish was compared. Oviposition in adjacent mangrove forests was con centrated in the site with the lowest fish density. In 3 mangrove fore sts, egg populations from pool banks were significantly (P < 0.001) lo wer for pools with fish than for fishless pools, with an overall mean +/- SD of 1.6 +/- 5.7 and 20.0 +/- 34.8 eggs/sample, respectively. At one pool, egg densities increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 0.36 to 5.00 eggs/sample after drying killed fish. In excavated pools, ovip osition was significantly (P < 0.001) affected by fish. These data ind icate that Ae. taeniorhynchus avoids ovipositing in sites with high co ncentrations of fish and suggest that the response is fish-mediated. T his behavior may help to explain the migratory habits and population d ynamics of Ae. taeniorhynchus.