Evaluation of an oviposition-stimulating kairomone for the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, in Recife, Brazil

A synthetic mixture of an oviposition-stimulating kairomone for the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, comprising of 83% tetradecanoic acid, 16% nonanoic acid and 1% tetradecanoic acid methyl ester (NTT, in short) was tested in a dengue endemic area in Recife, Brazil. Gravid female mosquitoes confined to a cage under semi-field conditions deposited significantly higher numbers of eggs in traps baited with NTT at doses ranging from 0.6 to 600 ng/microl than in control (water) traps. When tested in homes, egg-laying in traps baited with 60 ng NTT/microl (final concentration in trap, approximately 3.33 ng/ml) and in control traps was not significantly different, but egg deposited in traps with lower dosage (6 ng NTT/microl; final concentration in trap, approximately 0.33 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in control traps. In subsequent trials, the numbers of eggs laid in traps baited with 0.6 ng NTT/microl (final concentration in trap, approximately 0.033 ng/ml) were not significantly different from the numbers deposited in trap loaded with 6 ng NTT/microl. Egg-laying was significantly higher in these treatments than in control traps.