Water quality of aquatic habitats is an important determinant of female mosquito oviposition and successful larval development. This study examined the influence of environmental covariates on Anopheles arabiensis mosquito abundance in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Central Province of Kenya, prior to implementation of a malaria vector control program. Experimental rice plots were used to examine ...

1. Although aggregation in non-social arthropods is common, its adaptive value is not always clear. Oviposition behaviour of the viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni ) is aggregative, with females preferring to lay eggs on twigs already infested by conspecifics. We previously showed that aggregative oviposition aided in overcoming host plant defences. Here we explore two additional benefits ...

BACKGROUND Knowing the underlying mechanisms of mosquito ecology will ensure effective vector management and contribute to the overall goal of malaria control. Mosquito populations show a high degree of population plasticity in response to environmental variability. However, the principle factors controlling population size and fecundity are for the most part unknown. Larval habitat and diet pl...

Many animal species face periods of chronic nutritional stress during which the individuals must continue to develop, grow, and/or reproduce despite low quantity or quality of food. Here, we use experimental evolution to study adaptation to such chronic nutritional stress in six replicate Drosophila melanogaster populations selected for the ability to survive and develop within a limited time o...

background: the aim of his study was to determine development time and thermal requirements of three myiasis flies including chrysomya albiceps, lucilia sericata, and sarcophaga sp. methods: rate of development (rod) and accumu­lated degree day ( add) of three important forensic flies in iran, chrysomya albiceps, lucilia sericata, and sarcophaga sp. by rearing individuals under a single constan...

abstract the effect of different larval density of chilo suppressalis walker was evaluated through 2006-2008 on rice infestation in controlled condition of the cages. the results indicated that there were significant effects between dead hearts, white heads and crop yield. the highest dead hearts and white heads were related to the treatment of 32 larvae per m2 and the lowest ones were obtained...

OBJECTIVE To assess the cost effectiveness of larval therapy compared with hydrogel in the management of leg ulcers. DESIGN Cost effectiveness and cost utility analyses carried out alongside a pragmatic multicentre, randomised, open trial with equal randomisation. Population Intention to treat population comprising 267 patients with a venous or mixed venous and arterial ulcers with at least 2...

OBJECTIVES To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of larval therapy with a standard debridement technique (hydrogel). DESIGN A pragmatic, three-arm, randomised controlled trial with an economic evaluation. SETTING Community nursing services, community leg ulcer clinics and hospital outpatient leg ulcer clinics. A range of urban and rural settings. PARTICIPANTS Patien...

High density populations of the crown-of-thorns seastar, Acanthaster planci, are a major contributor to the decline of coral reefs, however the causes behind periodic outbreaks of this species are not understood. The enhanced nutrients hypothesis posits that pulses of enhanced larval food in eutrophic waters facilitate metamorphic success with a flow-on effect for population growth. The larval ...