Which statement about Aedes albopictus eggs is true?

Which statement about Aedes albopictus eggs is true?

• A. Eggs can withstand desiccation for up to 1 year.
• B. Eggs hatch only in running water.
• C. Eggs hatch in ice-cold water.
• D. Eggs require brackish water to hatch.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how Aedes albopictus eggs endure dry periods and what happens when they become wet. These eggs are laid above the water in containers and have a very tough, desiccation-tolerant outer shell. That allows them to survive drying for extended times—often many months, up to about a year—without losing viability. When water eventually floods the container and covers the eggs, they hatch quickly, typically within a day or two. The water doesn’t have to be flowing; standing water is enough, and fresh water is sufficient for hatching (brackish water isn’t required). Ice-cold water wouldn’t trigger hatching, since the embryos respond to rehydration and the presence of water rather than cold alone. So, stating that eggs can withstand desiccation for up to a year is the best description of their eggs’ behavior.

The key idea here is how Aedes albopictus eggs endure dry periods and what happens when they become wet. These eggs are laid above the water in containers and have a very tough, desiccation-tolerant outer shell. That allows them to survive drying for extended times—often many months, up to about a year—without losing viability. When water eventually floods the container and covers the eggs, they hatch quickly, typically within a day or two. The water doesn’t have to be flowing; standing water is enough, and fresh water is sufficient for hatching (brackish water isn’t required). Ice-cold water wouldn’t trigger hatching, since the embryos respond to rehydration and the presence of water rather than cold alone. So, stating that eggs can withstand desiccation for up to a year is the best description of their eggs’ behavior.