The bionomics of three sympatric Eretmapodites (Diptera: Culicidae) at the Kenya coast

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Abstract
Among collections from natural microhabitats in coastal forests in Kenya, larvae of Eretmapodites quinquevittatusTheo. and E. silvestris conchobius Edw. were recovered almost exclusively from water-filled snail shells, while those of E. subsimplicipes Edw. were found in tree holes, snail shells, leaf pools, cavities in fungi and most often in fruit husks. E. quinquevittatus oviposited in shells of Achatina fulica set as traps during periods when E. s. conchobius was not abundant, thereby reducing niche overlap of these two species in this microhabitat. The eggs of all three species were moderately drought-resistant. In the laboratory, larvae of E. subsimplicipes preyed upon larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.) but pupated sooner when offered particulate food instead. E. quinquevittatus failed to complete development on a diet consisting only of prey larvae. Mating and oviposition of all three species was achieved in the laboratory, and blood-feeding was not a prerequisite for insemination of E. subsimplicipes.