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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
Propagation of the Microsporidian Parasite Edhazardia aedis in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
Published on: August 13, 2020
[Aedes aegypti oviposition in response to NPK fertilizers]
1Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Laboratoire de lutte contre les insectes nuisibles (LIN), 911, avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34934 Montpellier 5, France. darriet@mpl.ird.fr
Abstract:
Fertilizers are mineral associations intended to bring to the plants nutritive complements necessary to their growth. Modern fertilizers (NPK) combine the three basic elements which are the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). In this study, we investigated in tunnel apparatus the influence of aqueous solutions containing low, moderate and high concentrations of NPK on the oviposition of Aedes aegypti. The results showed that the solutions containing moderate concentrations (NK = 17-33 mg/l and P = 23-47 mg/l) attracted significantly more gravid females than distilled water (P < 0.001). Conversely, the solutions containing either low or high concentrations of NPK (NK = 8 mg/l and P = 12 mg/l; NK = 50 mg/I and P = 70 mg/l) did not induce significant attraction (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that NPK fertilizers may influence the egg-laying behaviour of Ae. aegypti in field situations.
