HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fox, I. Articles by Garcia-Moll, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fox, I. Articles by Garcia-Moll, I.

Notes on Rock Hole Breeding and Resistance of Aedes Aegypti in Puerto Rico

Irving Fox^*, Arthur H. Boike, Jr. AND Ileana Garcia-Moll

Either by the finding of larvae or by the flooding of dry material, natural rock holes in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, were shown to be breeding Aedes aegypti on four occasions during a period of 5 months, 17 July to 15 December 1959. The rock holes were photographed and some of their characteristics recorded. Since the area had resisted control measures involving treatment with DDT and dieldrin, larvae from the rock holes were used to establish colonies which were subjected to toxicological tests in the F₃ generation. The larvae were found to be highly resistant to DDT, dieldrin, and lindane. At 2.5 ppm the 24 hour percentage mortality of two replicates, counting dead-plus-moribund larvae, ranged from 76 to 92, 4 to 4, and 72 to 80 respectively; and counting dead only, the percentage mortalities ranged from 64 to 84, 0 to 4, and 56 to 68 respectively. Control failure in the area was ascribed to the abundance of artificial containers, the hidden, inaccessible rock hole breeding places, and the resistance of the strain to DDT and dieldrin. Results were compared with those from tests on larvae from five other localities. It was concluded that aegypti along the whole north coast of Puerto Rico is resistant to both DDT and dieldrin, or will shortly become so, so that continued use of these insecticides is believed to be of little value. The abandonment of the current idea that aegypti populations do not show resistance to both DDT and dieldrin is also suggested.

^* This investigation was supported by the Puerto Rico Department of Health and by Research Grant E-1225 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U. S. Public Health Service.

Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Florida, Gainesville.