Prolonged survival of eggs of the rock-pool mosquito, Aedes vittatus, in the extreme heat of the Arabian peninsula

Ten rock hollows in the mountains of northern Oman were artificially flooded with water, after they had been dry for at least 5 months and exposed to long periods over 40°C. Three days later, 50% of the hollows were found to contain larvae of Aedes vittatus. Laboratory experiments in which eggs were exposed to different temperatures and humidities found that survival was better at higher humidities. At 30°C, 65% of eggs hatched even after 16 weeks desiccation. At 40°C, hatching remained high (54%) after 8 weeks, but at 45°C, survival was only high (88%) for 2 days exposure, while no eggs survived at 50°C.