Sl. Van Rhein et al., Effects of habitat type and drying on Ascogregarina barretti (Eugregarinida : Lecudinidae) infection in Aedes triseritatus (Diptera : Culicidae), J MED ENT, 37(6), 2000, pp. 950-956
The intensity and prevalence of parasitism by Ascogregarina barretti (Vavra
) in aedes triseriatus (Say) did not differ between tires and tree holes in
field samples taken in September 1996. There was significant variation in
the intensity of parasitism among containers that was not significantly cor
-related with the pH, conductivity, or temperature of the container water.
In an experiment manipulating habitat drying, treatments had a significant
effect on A. barretti infection of Ae. triseriatus, only during midsummer i
n one of two years. Containers maintained at maximal volume had the lowest
prevalence of parasitism, and containers that dried out had the greatest pr
evalence. In this experiment, there was also a season-dependent difference
in the intensity and prevalence of infection between tree holes and tires.
The first larvae to reach the fourth instar in tires in the early summer ha
d lower intensity and prevalence of infection than did larvae in tree holes
during the same period. The seasonal difference in intensity of parasitism
between tires and tree holes was not related to differences in pH, conduct
ivity, and temperature.