An investigation into the influence of leaf species on the growth performance and oviposition preference of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Sri Lanka

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a container breeder that utilizes a wide range of water-holding containers for oviposition. The attraction of the gravid females to the oviposition site is based on several physical, chemical, and biological cues. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to determine the individual and combined effects of Honduras mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae), Welan, Pterospermum suberifolium (L.) Lam. (Malvaceae), Dawata, Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr. (Rhizophoraceae), and Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae) on the oviposition preference, larval duration, larval mortality, pupal duration, and fecundity of A. albopictus. Microcosms were prepared with senescent leaves of the selected plant species and utilized for the tests. Accordingly, the number of eggs laid in A. indica leaf infusion was the lowest, while C. brachiata and P. suberifolium were the highest. Furthermore, the highest larval mortality, larval and pupal duration, and the lowest fecundity of the emerged adults were observed in A. indica. The leaf combination of A. indica and C. brachiata (ND-Neem & Dawata) showed the highest larval mortality and the lowest fecundity of the emerged adults, while the leaf combination of S. macrophylla, A. indica and P. suberifolium (MNW) showed the highest larval and pupal durations. However, it can be postulated that A. indica leaf species hinders the growth performance and oviposition preference of A. albopictus.