STARVED LARVAE OF AEDES-AEGYPTI (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) RENDER WATERS UNATTRACTIVE TO OVIPOSITING CONSPECIFIC FEMALES

Gravid, laboratory-reared females of Aedes aegypti (L.) were allowed f ree choice of oviposition sites among a full array of test waters deri ved from fed larvae, from larvae starved for varying lengths of time, and distilled water. Females consistently preferred to oviposit on wat ers from fed larvae than on any other medium (407.8 +/- 22.0 [mean +/- SE] eggs). Waters from larvae starved for 3 or 5 d were progressively less attractive and, in some cases, repellent. After 7 d of starvatio n, the attractiveness of 3rd instar waters (256.8 +/- 3.9 eggs) was in distinguishable from that of distilled water controls (230.5 +/- 20.5 eggs). Corresponding 2nd and 4th instars rendered waters repellent to ovipositing females (156.8 +/- 8.6 and 159.5 +/- 16.5 eggs, respective ly). The significance of these findings are discussed in light of ovip osition repellence elicited by other means.