# Oviposition response of Aedes mosquitoes to different cement types: a field-based study in urban Sri Lanka

## TL;DR

This study found that certain types of cement used in construction can reduce Aedes mosquito egg-laying, potentially helping to control dengue transmission in urban areas.

## Contribution

The first field-based study showing that specific cement types deter Aedes mosquito oviposition in urban settings.

## Key findings

- Traps with Blended Hydraulic Cement (BHC) and Portland Limestone Cement (PCC) had significantly fewer mosquito eggs than controls.
- Outdoor traps had higher egg counts than indoor traps.
- Conductivity of water was the only water quality factor significantly associated with egg counts.

## Abstract

Dengue is a rapidly expanding vector-borne disease transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which often breed in artificial containers. Urban construction sites, with their abundance of water-holding surfaces, are increasingly recognized as key breeding habitats. This study presents the first field-based evaluations of how specific construction materials, particularly cement types, influence mosquito oviposition behavior.

A seven-month field-based, randomized controlled experiment (September 2024–March 2025) was conducted across three Grama Niladhari divisions (Kolonnawa, Salamulla, and Orugodawatta) in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. A total of 480 ovitraps using four substrate types, Control (plastic), Blended Hydraulic Cement (BHC), Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), and Portland Limestone Cement (PCC), were deployed in indoor (n = 4) and outdoor (n = 4) settings at 20 randomly selected households per GN division. Water quality parameters (pH, turbidity, conductivity) were recorded at trap placement. Egg counts were analyzed using a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression model.

Traps containing BHC and PCC substrates had significantly fewer eggs than controls (BHC: β = -0.402, P = 0.014; PCC: β = -0.527, P = 0.001) and showed a higher likelihood of zero-egg presence (BHC: β = 1.025, P = 0.002; PCC: β = 0.941, P = 0.003). Outdoor traps had higher egg counts than indoor ones (β = 0.326, P = 0.021). Among water quality factors, only conductivity was significantly associated with egg counts (P = 0.036).

The BHC and PCC cement types significantly deterred Aedes oviposition compared to other substrates, indicating that construction materials can influence mosquito breeding behavior.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-025-07610-8.