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.