Effect of different lining paper materials and infusions on oviposition preference of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) gravid mosquitoes

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) mosquito is a vector responsible for increasing global public health concerns due to its rapid geographical spread and increasing vectorial capacity. Understanding the breeding behavior of Ae. aegypti is crucial to control this vector and thereby limiting the spread of diseases. To study this mosquito breeding in the laboratories and ovitraps, different types of lining-papers, surrounding inner surface of a container along with different types of added infusions, are used. Lining-papers serve as surfaces for oviposition and infusions provide the essential environment for nurturing. The types of oviposition surfaces and infusions used in laboratory rearing facilities or ovitraps influence oviposition preference, changing the breeding behavior of Ae. aegypti gravid mosquitoes. This study presents a comparative study on oviposition preferences for six different types of lining-papers and six different types of infusions in a bioassay cage. ANOVA analysis shows a significant effect on oviposition preference of different types of lining-papers that served as oviposition surfaces. The highest oviposition activity was observed for the ‘agri seed germination paper-75’ lining-paper when normal tap water infusion was used. Likewise, statistical analysis shows that when a ‘plain printing offset paper 80 GSM’ lining-paper was used, a highly statistically significant effect on oviposition preference is observed for different types of infusions used in the oviposition cups.