The Effect of a Difference in Temperature and Humidity on certain Reactions of Female Aëdes aegypti (L.)

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Abstract
Sir Rickard Christophers (1947) working at 25°C. and a relative humidity of 80–90 per cent. found female Aëdes aegypti to be attracted by a warm dry surface at 40°C., and to be unaffected by a moist surface at room temperature. The writer (1948), working at 28°C. and 50–70 per cent. R.H. (usually near 50 per cent.) found the opposite: a warm dry surface at temperatures from 36°C. to 40°C. had no effect, while a moist surface at room temperature exerted a quite definite attraction. The purpose of the present experiments was to test the hypothesis that the difference between the results obtained in these two investigations was due to the difference in the ambient temperature and humidity.Repetition of the relevant experiments at 25°C, 85–90 per cent. R.H., and 28°C, 50–55 per cent. R.H., gave results indicating that temperature and humidity difference operating at the time of the experiment could account for part but not all of the discrepancy. There are indications that the remainder may have been a result of the conditioning effect of temperature and humidity differences operating on the insect prior to the experiment.The results emphasise the need for a full description of the climatic conditions under which behaviour work of the type discussed is performed.

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