Characterizing larval breeding sites: competition and predation
The density of Ae. aegypti was similar in forest and peridomestic
larval breeding sites in La Lopé (Figure 2c, W = 33.5, p = 0.961). Other
mosquito species were recorded only in the La Lopé forest, with a
similar density between Ae. aegypti present and absent site
(Figure S3a, W = 121.5, p = 0.723). The frequency of finding predatoryToxorhynchites larvae (Table S3) did not differ among larval
breeding site groups (ꭓ2=3.67, df=3, p=0.30), between
habitats (ꭓ2=1.14, df=1, p=0.29), or between Ae.
aegypti present and absent sites (ꭓ2=0.41, df=1,
p=0.52).
In Rabai, Ae. aegypti density was significantly lower in domestic
larval breeding sites (Figure 2d, forest vs. domestic: W=19,
p<0.001; peridomestic vs. domestic: W=140, p=0.013). The
density difference between domestic and forest containers was mainly
driven by the larger size of the former. In contrast, the difference
between domestic and peridomestic sites was due to the higher number of
mosquitoes found in the latter (negative-binomial model, rate
ratio=2.89, p<0.001). Peridomestic and forest sites had
similar Ae. aegypti density (W=69, p=0.583). When including other
mosquito species, domestic breeding sites also had lower overall
mosquito density than the other two habitats (Figure S3b, Table S5).
Within the forest, Ae. aegypti present and absent sites had
similar mosquito density.