Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Studies were carried out to estimate and compare mortalities of larvae and pupae of Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni sensu lato breeding in axils of Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Araceae) and Musa spp. (Musaceae) in different locations in Uganda and also to ascertain whether there are any differences in their dynamics that could be used to separate the species. The probability of larvae surviving from one day to the next (40·5 – 99·8%), and the proportions dying in each instar (0·97 – 77·3%) and dying daily in all the four instars (3·9 – 46·3%) varied between seasons at each site and between sites and species of plants. Estimates of larval and pupal mortality were generally highest for fourth instar [52·4 ± 6·0% (mean ± SE)] and lowest for the second instar larvae (16·0 ± 2·6%). There was higher larval instar mortality in axils of X. sagittifolium (96·9%) and Musa spp. (82·2 – 96·5%) than in C. esculenta (47·1 – 88·4%).