OVIPOSITION ACTIVITY OF MANSONIA SPECIES IN AREAS ALONG THE MADEIRA RIVER, BRAZILIAN AMAZON RAINFOREST

Mansonia are aggressive mosquito species that are abundant in aquatic ecosystems where the macrophyte plants occur. These mosquitoes are commonly found across the Amazon/Solimoes River basin. However, little is known about the oviposition behavior of these species. In the present study, we registered observations on the oviposition activity of 3 species: Mansonia amazonensis, Ma. humeralis, and Ma. cf. titillans, in 5 species of macrophytes in the vicinities of the Madeira River, Porto Velho, State of Rondonia, Brazil. Overall, 197 egg batches were collected. A greater amount of egg batches was found in Salvinia molesta as compared with other macrophytes sampled. In addition, 2 new oviposition habitats were noted in Ludwigia helmintorrhiza and Limnobium spongia. These findings will be important to understand the reproductive dynamics of these mosquitoes in the Brazilian Amazon basin.