Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Oviposition Site Preference and Egg Hatching of the Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) Mosquito
by
, , , ,
Luka Ndungu
1,*
,
Donald Roberts
2,
Lewis Long
2,
Emilie Goguet
3,4,
Alex Stubner
1,
Sean Beeman
1
,
Stephen Lewandowski
1 and
Bernard Okech
5,* 1
Division of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
2
Division of Global Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
3
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
4
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
5
Graduate Programs, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(9), 928; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090928
Submission received: 9 July 2025
/
Revised: 22 August 2025
/
Accepted: 24 August 2025
/
Published: 4 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Mosquito Surveillance and Control)
Simple Summary
Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) mosquitoes, which spread diseases such as dengue and Zika, lay their eggs in water-filled containers in the environment. Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical naturally found in rainwater and other water sources, but its effects on mosquito oviposition choice preference and egg hatching are not well understood. This study tested whether concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (5 to 100 μM) influence where mosquitoes lay their eggs and whether their eggs can still hatch. In experiments offering many choices, mosquitoes laid eggs even in cups with hydrogen peroxide, but when given only two options, water and hydrogen peroxide, they preferred cups without hydrogen peroxide. For egg hatching, long exposure to hydrogen peroxide did not have much effect, but short exposure to higher concentrations increased the number of eggs that hatched. These findings suggest that hydrogen peroxide in the environment can sometimes change mosquito egg-laying behavior and may affect egg hatchability under specific conditions. Understanding these effects can help us predict how natural water chemistry shapes mosquito oviposition behavior and could inform new ways to manage mosquito populations and reduce disease spread.
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) occurs in the environment, including in aquatic environments where mosquitoes might lay eggs. However, little is known about the compound’s impact on mosquitoes. We conducted an experiment to determine the effect of H2O2 on Ae. aegypti oviposition behavior and egg hatching using H2O2 concentrations similar to those in natural aquatic environments. Oviposition behavior was evaluated by dual-choice and multi-choice bioassays. Gravid Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were placed in cages with containers with different H2O2 concentrations (5, 25, 50, and 100 μM). After 72 h, the number of eggs laid was compared between oviposition sites with and without H2O2. Additionally, egg hatching was assessed under long-period exposure (48 h) and short-period exposure (2, 4, and 6 h and then in deionized water for up to 48 h). Results showed no significant difference in oviposition preference scores in the multi-choice assay (OAI = −0.135 ± 0.06) (p = 0.138), but a significant difference in the dual-choice assay (0.195 ± 0.01) (p = 0.001). Long-period exposure to H2O2 did not significantly affect hatch rates (11.34%) (p = 0.363), but short-period exposure significantly impacted hatch rates (17%) (p = 0.0001), with period of exposure alone playing a significant role (p < 0.0044). Eggs exposed to 100 μM H2O2 for 2 h (p = 0.0070) and 4 h (p = 0.0036) had significantly higher hatch rates compared to the control. This study demonstrates that low concentrations of H2O2 can influence oviposition site characteristics and egg hatch rates. Combined with other environmental factors, H2O2 can shape the reproductive success of Ae. aegypti, offering potential strategies for mosquito control.
