摘要：An extensive network of storm water conveyance systems in urban areas, often referred to as the “underground storm drain system” (USDS), serves as significant production habitats for mosquitoes. Knowledge of whether USDS habitats are suitable for newly introduced dengue vectors
Aedes aegypti and
Ae. albopictus will help guide surveillance and control efforts. To determine whether the USDS functions as a suitable larval habitat for
Culex,
Ae. aegypti and
Ae. albopictus in southern California, we examined mosquito habitat utilization and larval survivorship using laboratory microcosm studies. The data showed that USDS constituted 4.1% of sampled larval habitats for
Ae. aegypti and
Ae. albopictus, and 22.0% for
Cx. quinquefasciatus. Furthermore, USDS water collected in the summer completely inhibited
Aedes larval development, but yielded a 15.0% pupation rate for
Cx. quinquefasciatus. Food supplementation in the microcosms suggests that nutrient deficiency, toxins and other factors in the USDS water led to low success or complete failure of larval development. These results suggest that USDS habitats are currently not major productive larval habitats for
Aedes mosquitoe
s in southern California. Our findings prompt inclusion of assessments of pupal productivity in USDS habitats and adult mosquito resting sites in the mosquito surveillance program.
