Resource Availability Overrides Predator Presence in Mosquito Oviposition Habitat Selection

ABSTRACT Oviposition habitat selection is a critical stage of the life cycle of mosquitoes, which can determine the success of subsequent generations and mosquito borne disease patterns. Both biotic and abiotic factors can mediate selection of sites for progeny, through perceived risk and reward from predators and resources. We thus assess whether resource presence and absence in the form of sugarcane (jaggery), together with notonectid predator presence, affected southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus oviposition choice. The experiment was repeated in two contiguous experimental years and effects were compared between notonectid nymphs and adults as well as caged and uncaged notonectid predators. Overall, gravid mosquitoes preferred to oviposit in the presence of the sugarcane resource irrespective of the various forms of predator presence or absence. Predator presence had weaker effects on oviposition that were mixed between experimental years. Environmental variables helped explain this variation in predator effects, whereby, for example, dissolved oxygen, pH and free carbon dioxide of water were associated with differences in oviposition patterns, suggesting context‐dependent habitat selection. These results suggest that resource availability overrides predation risk in mosquito oviposition habitat selection, whereas biotic effects can be emergent and change over time depending on prevailing environmental conditions. These results have implications for vector mosquito population and disease management, by identifying and manipulating habitat favourability and targeting waters for control.