The role of car tyres in the ecology of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Ghana

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is an important vector of arboviral diseases including dengue and yellow fever. Despite the wide distribution of this mosquito species, there are limited data on the ecology of Ae. aegypti in Ghana. In this study, we report on the oviposition preference and the larval life tables of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in Accra, Ghana. The oviposition preference of the mosquitoes to three habitat types (car tyres, drums and bowls) was measured by setting up ovitraps. We recorded the presence and abundance of larvae every 3 days. Two-hour-old Ae. aegypti larvae were introduced and raised in three habitat types to undertake larval life tables. The number of surviving larvae at each developmental stage was recorded daily until they emerged as adults. Car tyres showed a higher abundance of Ae. aegypti larvae (52.3%) than drums (32.5%) and bowls (15.1%) (ANOVA, F_(2,159) = 18.79, P < 0.001). The mean development time of Ae. aegypti larvae was significantly lower in car tyres (7 ± 1 days) compared to that of bowls (9 ± 0.0 days) and drums (12.6 ± 1.5 days) (P = 0.024). The differences in pupation rates and emergence rates were not significant across the habitat types; however, the highest pupation rate was observed in bowls (0.92 ± 0.17) and the emergence rate was highest in tyres (0.84 ± 0.10). The proportion of first-instar larvae that survived to emergence was significantly higher in car tyres (0.84 ± 0.10) compared to that of bowls (0.72 ± 0.20) and drums (0.62 ± 0.20) (P = 0.009). No mortalities were observed after 9 days in car tyres, 10 days in bowls and 15 days in drums. The results confirm that discarded car tyres were the preferred habitat choice for the oviposition of gravid female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and provide the best habitat conditions for larval development and survival. These findings are necessary for understanding the ecology of Ae. aegypti to develop appropriate strategies for their control in Ghana.