Populations (n = 25) of fourth instar Aedes aegypti were introduced into observation arenas that contained one of 5 types of substrates, and were sub-divided into 5 equal 1 cm horizontal zones. The larvae were videotaped to determine effects of food quality, food quantity, and nutrient deprivation on vertical distribution of larvae over time. At least two-thirds of the larvae consistently aggregated at the surface and on the bottom. The proportion depended on the nature of the substratum and was influenced by nutrient deprivation. In contrast, density of larvae in the 3 remaining zones was consistently low and was unaffected by either of these variables. Larvae were typically very active during a 15 minute period of acclimation upon introduction into the observation arena; subsequently, levels of activity declined. Most starved larvae in the presence of a high-quality food substrate fed to repletion faster than fed larvae, whereas in an arena devoid of food, they foraged on the bottom for a longer duration of time than the fed. With a substrate of a semi- or highly non-nutritive nature, foraging again appeared more intense among starved than fed individuals. Starved larvae consistently aggregated on the bottom, in contrast to fed individuals that became more evenly distributed between the surface and the bottom.

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Exposure of fourth instar Aedes aegypti larvae to graded concentrations of the entomopathogenic cercariae of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans, induced fundamental changes in the partitioning of time among a number of major behavioural activities. In the absence of the parasite, swimming, breathing and feeding remained stable over time. Grooming was rarely observed. In the presence of cercariae, larvae increased grooming 26-fold. Concomitantly, feeding was reduced to 33% of control values. Times spent swimming and breathing remained unchanged. The increase in grooming activity was attributable to the attachment of cercariae to the surface of the mosquito larvae, but was independent of infection. Grooming reduced cercarial penetration. Seventy-five percent of cercariae were lost to predation by larvae, but their caloric value was insignificant and failed to compensate for the loss of feeding time due to grooming. The findings are discussed in the context of their impact on larval growth, development and survival.

Cercariae of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans cause high levels of morbidity and mortality among larvae of Aedes aegypti . The impact of this parasite on the larval population dynamics of the experimental host as mediated through intraspecific competition, egg hatchability and ovipositional preference was assessed by calculating the probability of pre-imagos to develop from one stage to the next, or to die within consecutive 24 h intervals. Attractiveness of the water to ovipositing females in a dynamic larval population was not affected by exposure to the parasite, but varied significantly over time, regardless of food abundance. In optimally fed populations, these changes were positively correlated with pupal production, but were not affected by early instar development. Most of the entomopathogenic effects of the parasite were expressed in the pupal stage. Thus, exposure to the parasite significantly reduced adult emergence, but did not greatly impair pre-imago development. Nonetheless, exposure to various levels of the parasite significantly increased mortality of all larval stages. Suboptimally fed larval populations displayed severely impaired development and produced few adults. Exposure to P. elegans increased adult production slightly, suggesting depensatory mortality. In nutritionally stressed populations, no correlation was found between biomass and ovipositional preference, but attractiveness of the water was significantly increased by the removal of individuals by pupation or mortality. Egg hatchability was not significantly affected by population structure, but varied with the nutrient content of the water. This study provides new insight into the use of parasites as agents in the biological control of mosquitoes.

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Waters from normal larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.) are highly attractive to ovipositing conspecific females, whereas waters from larvae infected with the entomopathogenic digenean parasite, Plagiorechis elegans Rudolphi, are rendered strongly repellent. The production of the repellent appears to be mediated by the degree of environmentally induced stress experienced by the larvae. Whereas waters from fully fed larvae were highly attractive as an oviposition site, these were rendered progressively less attractive, and eventually strongly repellent as the larvae were deprived of food over a period of 7 days. Crowding of the larvae elicited similar repellent effects as did close contact between larvae and the walls of the container in which they were reared. The site of infection in the tissues of the mosquito larvae also influenced the intensity of repellency. Thus, infections of the head and thorax induced the highest degree of repellency, and infections of the abdomen the lowest. The repellent effect overrode attraction and remained stable for more than one week at 27°C, and even longer at lower temperatures. Stressors which induced repellency all precipitated similar physical and physiological changes in mosquito larvae. They reduced wet and dry weights and the concentration of serum carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins and lipids. Both infection and crowding rendered larvae anorexic. As well, infected larvae appeared to be unable to convert trehalose to glucose, thereby exacerbating the energy deficit. Incubating infected larvae in a dilute glucose solution significantly reduced the repellent effect of their waters. Addition of glucose to already repellent waters had little effect. Larvae of another species, Aedes atropalpus Coquillett, were equally capable of producing repellent effects when infected with P. elegans, and gravid females of Ae. aegypti were equally sensitive to these as to conspecific waters. This sensitivity, however, was not reciprocal. Aedes

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