Habitat overflow, a source of larval mortality for Aedes sierrensis (Diptera: Culicidae).

In laboratory and field tests, larvae of the western tree hole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis (Ludlow), were flushed by rainfall from both glass containers and natural tree holes. After 7 d and an accumulated rainfall of 7.9 cm (3.1 in), between 0 and 327 Ae. sierrensis immatures were recovered in collection devices placed below four natural tree holes. Habitat overflow affected all larval stages and may be an important, but overlooked, density-independent source of larval mortality for mosquitoes developing in some water-filled containers.