EFFICIENCY OF OVITRAP COLOURS FOR ATTRACTING GRAVID AEDES AEGYPTI AND AEDES ALBOPICTUS IN INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN AREAS OF DIBRUGARH DISTRICT, ASSAM.

This survey was aimed to assess the impact of container colour in selection of oviposition site by gravid females of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in some urban and industrial areas of Dibrugarh district. The study was carried out in an urban area known to harbour a large population of Aedes albopictus and in an industrial area with more or less small factories with a large population of Aedes aegypti using ovitraps with different colour. Results showed an increased oviposition tendency for black coloured ovitraps by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus but both the species equally prefers red ovitraps for their multiplication with less oviposition in lighter coloured ovitraps such as brown and white. Means (SE) in order of efficacy for Aedes aegypti were black 145.83(17.87)>red 105.5(24.47)> blue 83.5(14.03)> green 68.17(8.66)> brown 25(8.98)> white 15(5.1) and for Aedes albopictus were black 147.5 ((19.03)> red 140.66(17.39)> green 107.83(10.76)> blue 73.5(6.48)> brown 27.67(7.07) white15.33 (3.93). Black ovitraps outperformed competing coloured with respect to choose from both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus seeking artificial oviposition sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]