Distribution of container-inhabiting Aedes larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) at a dengue focus in Thailand

A Thai village with dengue transmission was surveyed for Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) larvae at the end of the rainy season. All containers (1,819) in 186 households were surveyed, recording the presence of larvae, container type, level of water, kind of cover, and location. The number of positive containers was proportional to the total number of containers in a household. Standard water jars (approximately 200 liters) contributed 57% and small water jars (< 100 liters) contributed 16% of the total infested containers. Each of the other 10 container types contributed < or = 10% of the total infested containers and were not statistically different from each other. Containers inside houses were infested significantly more often than were those outdoors, those under elevated houses or roofs, or those in bathrooms. Unexpectedly, standard water jars located outdoors that were covered with commercial metal lids were infested significantly more often than were uncovered jars.