Eryngium spp. (Umbelliferae) as phytotelmata and their Culex (Culex) inhabitants in temperate Argentina

The host-plant fidelity, seasonality, and population dynamics of 3 species of Culex (Culex) were examined from monthly samples of mosquito immatures extracted from the leaf axils of Eryngium pandanifolium and Eryngium cabrerae growing sympatrically in the Punta Lara region of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Culex hepperi was collected only from E. pandanifolium, and abundance peaks of its larvae and pupae were asynchronous in forest and field habitats. However, the proportion of plants positive for Cx. hepperi, as well as larval densities and developmental success, did not differ between forest and field. Culex renatoi was collected only from E. cabrerae in the field habitat. The monthly numbers of Cx. hepperi and Cx. renatoi were not significantly correlated with the proportion of their host plants that held water. The stage-specific distributions of Cx. hepperi and C. renatoi numbers were highly skewed towards 1st instars and did not differ between species or, for Cx. hepperi, between forest and field habitats. Culex castroi was collected regularly from the axils of both species of Eryngium, but usually in lesser numbers than either Cx. hepperi or Cx. renatoi. Association analyses indicated significant positive associations between Cx. castroi and the other 2 culicine species in host plants. Culex renatoi occurred preferentially in small E. cabrerae, but Cx. castroi did not discriminate plants based on their size. These 3 species of Culex are known only from Eryngium spp. phytotelmata. We suggest that their host-plant specificity is maintained by oviposition preferences, which are more highly selective for Cx. hepperi or Cx. renatoi than for Cx. castroi.