title: Rate of oviposition by Culex quinquefasciatus in San Antonio, Texas, during three years.
abstract: Two artificial oviposition sites containing aged alfalfa pellet infusion were exposed to natural populations of Culex quinquefasciatus in San Antonio, Texas, for 3 years. Numbers of egg rafts were counted daily and compared to weather data from a nearby station. Egg rafts were generally most numerous in summer months, declining in fall and increasing in spring. Oviposition occurred in winter only when temperatures were high enough. A particularly severe winter in 1983-84 reduced winter activity, but was followed by a great increase in oviposition in late spring. In summer, increases of oviposition were correlated with rainfall 2 to 3 weeks before the time of oviposition. Rainfall at the time of oviposition appeared to decrease oviposition. On a seasonal basis, lack of rainfall in the summer of 1984 was correlated with a decrease in oviposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strickman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D013781:Texas