NATURAL HABITATS OF AEDES-AEGYPTI IN THE CARIBBEAN - A REVIEW

Natural breeding habitats of Aedes aegypti in the Caribbean region wer e reviewed by conducting larval surveys in Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and referring to records from the Mosquitoes o f Middle America project. Twelve types of natural habitats were record ed: rock holes (9.7%), calabashes (2.4%), tree holes (19.5%), leaf axi ls (4.8%), bamboo joints (14.9%), papaya stumps (7.3%), coconut shells (4.8%), bromeliads (7.3%), ground pools (14.9%), coral rock holes (9. 7%), crab holes (2.4%), and conch shells (7.3%), of which the coconut shell and calabash habitats were new to the Caribbean. The countries h aving the highest prevalence of natural habitats were Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, with 9 types (22.0%), 7 types (17.0%), and 6 types (14.6%), respectively. The distribution of natural habitats of Ae. ae gypti in the Caribbean region is discussed in relation to vector contr ol measures.