Description of the Egg ofOchlerotatus japonicus japonicus(Diptera: Culicidae) Using Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The egg of Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Theobald) is described with the aid of variable pressure scanning electron micrographs. The egg is black, cigar shaped, and tapers ventrally. The length is approximately 591 microm and the width is approximately 172 microm. The outer chorionic cells are irregular in shape, either hexagonal or pentagonal, and decrease in size toward the anterior and posterior poles. Ventral tubercles typically range from three to six and contact the chorionic reticulum. Dorsal tubercles contain two large tubercles with small oval-shaped tubercles grouped around them. A large thread-shaped tubercle extends from this grouping either as a single tubercle or as a series of connected tubercles. The micropylar collar is low and discontinuous and is seldom complete. This description will aid researchers in the identification of this invasive vector species.

Establishment of <I>Aedes japonicus japonicus</I> and Its Colonization of Container Habitats in Michigan

“…j. japonicus and Ae. triseriatus eggs (Haddow et al 2009). We found the distinctions between the two species’ eggs to be somewhat subjective and much less obvious than readily observed larval characters, and hence used the following hatching procedures to estimate viable eggs laid and ensure accurate identification of the targeted species.…”

Invasion Biology ofAedes japonicus japonicus(Diptera: Culicidae)

“…j. japonicus is a cold-tolerant species that overwinters primarily in the egg stage (for egg surface characteristics, see 34), but sometimes in the larval stage (4, 5, 41, 50, 93). Bartlett-Healy et al (10) observed that Ae.…”

Impacts of Climate, Land Use, and Biological Invasion on the Ecology of Immature Aedes Mosquitoes: Implications for La Crosse Emergence

“…Aedes japonicus is also a daytime biter of a variety of hosts including humans (Andreadis et al, 2001; Goudarz et al, 2009). LACV has been isolated from A. albopictus eggs and adults (Gerhardt et al, 2001; Haddow et al, 2009; Lambert et al, 2010; Westby et al, 2011) and A. japonicus adults (Westby et al, 2011) in the field. For both species, LACV positive adults have been found at case sites of LACV encephalitis in eastern Tennessee (Haddow et al, 2009, Westby et al, 2011), implicating these species as vectors of human cases in the Appalachian region.…”

“…LACV has been isolated from A. albopictus eggs and adults (Gerhardt et al, 2001; Haddow et al, 2009; Lambert et al, 2010; Westby et al, 2011) and A. japonicus adults (Westby et al, 2011) in the field. For both species, LACV positive adults have been found at case sites of LACV encephalitis in eastern Tennessee (Haddow et al, 2009, Westby et al, 2011), implicating these species as vectors of human cases in the Appalachian region. Laboratory infection and oral transmission rates for A. albopictus may be equal to or greater than those for A. triseriatus (Grimstad et al, 1989; Cully et al, 1992), although disseminated infection (Hughes et al, 2006) and transoviral transmission (Tesh and Gubler, 1975) rates are lower.…”

“…Aedes albopictus and A. japonicus are competent laboratory vectors of LACV (Grimstad et al, 1989; Cully et al, 1992; Sardelis et al, 2002). LACV has been isolated from field populations of both A. albopictus (Gerhardt et al, 2001; Haddow et al, 2009; Lambert et al, 2010; Westby et al, 2011) and A. japonicus (Westby et al, 2011). Thus, both invaders may affect the incidence of LACV in the Appalachian region by acting as important accessory vectors and by affecting the distribution and abundance of A. triseriatus by competing with the native species for resources in water-holding containers.…”