Influence of IGR treatment on oviposition of three species of vector mosquitos at sublethal concentrations

Sublethal effect of hexaflumuron, an insect growth regulator (IGR), on the oviposition of three species of vector mosquitos. Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi was studied. Significant reduction in oviposition was observed in the females of the above three species derived from fourth instar larvae and pupae exposed to sublethal (EI5 and EI50) doses. The reduction in egg laying is proportional to the dose of exposure and was found to be about twice higher in females of three species exposed to EI50 dose than those exposed to EI5 dose. Among the three species exposed at larval and pupal stages, Ae. aegypti showed maximum reduction in egg laying (29.3-46.6%). Blood feeding was also reduced in females exposed to EI50 dose at larval stage and a positive correlation was demonstrated between the quantity of blood meal taken and the proportion of eggs laid. Significant reduction in the quantum of blood ingested by the treated females may be responsible for the reduced egg laying.