Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) oviposition site selection: interplay of water chemistry and polarized light cues

We investigated the association between water physicochemical parameters and polarized light patterns with mosquito oviposition in central coast urban areas of Peru. Water samples from diverse locations were analyzed, assessing key parameters, including conductivity, total dissolved solids, hardness, pH, alkalinity, phosphate, and nitrate levels. Principal component analysis revealed that conductivity, total dissolved solids, and hardness were significantly associated with the presence of mosquito oviposition. These findings were corroborated by generalized linear mixed models, which highlighted location-specific effects and seasonal variations in physicochemical parameters associated with oviposition. Our study also explored polarized light as a potential oviposition cue. While a direct causal link between polarized light patterns and oviposition requires further investigation, a positive correlation between pH levels and circularly polarized light patterns suggests a potential interaction between water chemistry and this optical cue. These findings underscore the complex interplay of environmental factors associated with mosquito oviposition. Our results suggest an association between physicochemical cues, particularly conductivity, total dissolved solids, and hardness, and the presence of mosquito oviposition, with polarized light potentially playing a role.