Effect of tannic acid concentration on development of the western treehole mosquito,Aedes sierrensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

Populations ofAedes sierrensis (Ludlow) completed development in tannic acid solutions over a wide concentration range (i.e., 0-1.0 g/liter) in artificial microcosms exposed to field conditions. The most notable effects of high tannic acid concentration were to slow larval developmental rates and to reduce numbers of adults produced; adult size and sex ratio were minimally affected. Vector potential of the western treehole mosquito is discussed in terms of tannin concentration.