Identification of oviposition attractants for Culex quinquefasciatus from fermented Bermuda grass infusions.
Compounds which attract and stimulate oviposition by gravid Culex quinquefasciatus were isolated and identified from a fermented Bermuda grass infusion. The neutral portion of the ether extract of the aqueous infusion contained the stimulatory materials. Fractionation by liquid chromatography yielded an active fraction containing phenol, 4-methylphenol, 4-ethylphenol, indole and 3-methylindole. A blend of the 5 compounds strongly stimulated oviposition, as did blends of any 4 of them. Bioassays with individual compounds showed that only 3-methylindole consistently induced oviposition, in concentrations spanning 5 orders of magnitude.
Millar
J G
JG
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521.
Chaney
J D
JD
Mulla
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D003408:Cresols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006109:Poaceae; D012862:Skatole / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
D003408:Cresols; D007211:Indoles; D010636:Phenols; C032538:4-cresol; D012862:Skatole; C042291:4-ethylphenol