Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1979 Ovipositional Site Preference of Aedes Sollicitans (Walker) for Select Marsh Plants. Michael Kenneth Carroll Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Carroll, Michael Kenneth, "Ovipositional Site Preference of Aedes Sollicitans (Walker) for Select Marsh Plants." (1979). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3385. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3385 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 7927511 CARROLL* MICHAEL KENNETH OtflPOSITIONAL SITE PREFERENCE OF AEDES 50LLICITAMS {WALKER ) FOR SELECT MARSH PLANTS® THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COL®* PH.D =, 1979 University MicrtSilms International 300 N. ZEEB ROAD. ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark^ . 1. Glossy photographs 2. Colored illustrations _______ 3. Photographs with dark background '4. Illustrations are poor copy ______ 5. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 6. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages________ throughout 7. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 8. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 9. Page(s) _ _ _ _ _ lacking when material received, and not available from school or author __________ 10. Page(s) _______ seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows _ _ _ _ _ _ 11. Poor carbon copy________ 12. Not original copy, several pages with blurred type 13. Appendix pages are poor copy 14. Original copy with light type 15. Curling and wrinkled pages 16. Other University M ia d r ilm s International 300 N. 2EE3 SO.. ANN ARSOR. Ml 48106 '313) 761-4700 OVIPOSITIONAL SITE PREFERENCE OF AEDES SOLLICITANS (Walker) FOR SELECT MAJRSH PLANTS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Botany by Michael Kenneth Carroll B.S. Southeastern Louisiana University, 1971 M.S. Southeastern Louisiana University, 1973 August, 1979 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author is indebted to Dr. R. T. Parrondo, his major professor, and Dr. C. D. Steelman, his minor professor, for their advice and encouragement during this study. He also wishes to thank Drs. C. A. Schexnayder, R. L. Chapman, and M. H. Lieux, Department of Botany for their assistance in the preparation of this manuscript, The author expresses his appreciation to Dr. P. E. Schilling, Department of Experimental Statistics, for his assistance in the development of the statistical design and analysis used in this research. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................ ii LIST OF TABLES.......................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ........................................ vi ABSTRACT................................................ vii REVIEW OF LITERATURE.................................... ! Mosquito biology and specific factors affecting ovipositional site selection ........ 2 Plant/Mosquito relationships ................... 12 Laboratory ovipositional studies ............... 17 MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................. 20 Greenhouse design................................ 20 Laboratory design................................ 39 Field test design................................ 46 R E S U L T S ................................................. 48 Greenhouse study ...... .......... .... 48 Laboratory study ................................ 59 Field study...................................... 64 DISCUSSION.............................................. 69 CONCLUSION.............................................. 76 LITERATURE CITED........................................ 77 APPENDIX....................... 85 VITA..................................................... 92 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Conversion of % of the saturation moisture content (SMC) to % moisture by weight for tellucotton ovapads ............................. 43 2. Mean number of Aedes sollicitans larvae collected from greenhouse plots, May-September, 1976.............................................. 49 3. Analysis of variance of Aedes sollicitans larvae collected from greenhouse plots.......... 51 4. Invertebrates collected from greenhouse plots after one flooding - May 6 , 1976........... 52 5. Checklist of aquatic organisms collected after one flooding of greenhouse plots.......... 54 2 6 . Plant density in 0.5 m greenhouse plots......... 57 7. Water salinity in greenhouse plots at time of larval r e m o v a l ................................ 58 8 . Laboratory studies to determine ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for plant hormones.......................................... 61 9. Analysis of variance of ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for plant hormones.......................................... 62 10. Laboratory studies to determine ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for sucrose .. 63 11. Laboratory studies to determine ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for NaCl........ 65 12. Laboratory studies to determine ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for obstructed and un-obstructed ovapads ....................... 66 iv List of Tables continued. Table Page 13. Analysis of variance of ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans for obstructed and un-obstructed o v a p a d s ................................................ ... 14. Mean sample numbers from field tests in natural marsh _S. patens breeding sites (from appendix). 68 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. The greenhouse.................................... 21 2. Greenhouse with shading screen and misting hose in position.................................. 24 3. Greenhouse plot design indicating treatments and plot numbers.................................. 27 4. Greenhouse plots showing visquene linings and flooded soil...................................... 29 5. Greenhouse plots with mature plants prior to trimming and exposed s o i l ....................... 33 6 . Mosquito aspiration chamber in field use........ 35 7. Appearance of larval samples during identification and sampling...................................... 40 8 . Composite graph of greenhouse temperature and humidity regime for the five day test period. 60 vi ABSTRACT A study was undertaken to determine the ovipositional preference of Aedes sollicitans (Walker) for several of the major Louisiana marsh plant species and for specific factors associated with these plants. Greenhouse testing indicated that Aedes sollicitans had a significant (P<0.01) ovipositional preference for Spartina patens (Aiton) Muhlenberg when compared to Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Green, Spartina alterniflora Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, Bacopa monnieri (Linnaeus) Pennel, and bare soil. Significantly more (P<0.01) eggs were deposited in test plots containing Spartina patens than in test plots containing other vegetation or soil only. Although plant density in the greenhouse