Oviposition responses of gravid Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis to bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) infusions.
Laboratory bioassays demonstrated that fermented infusions of dried bulrushes (Schoenoplectus acutus) strongly attracted and stimulated oviposition by gravid female Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis. The responses of the 2 species varied with the concentration and method of preparation of the infusions, with responses generally increasing with increasing concentration. No major differences were found in the responses of either species to infusions prepared with bulrushes alone, or with bulrushes plus lactalbumin hydrolysate and brewer's yeast. Infusions remained more attractive than distilled water controls to both species for up to 8 wk. Field tests corroborated the results from the laboratory bioassays. Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. tarsalis, and Cx. stigmatosoma egg rafts were collected from water pan traps baited with bulrush infusions. A few Culiseta incidens eggs also were collected. In multiple-choice tests using gravid female or egg traps, Cx. quinquefasciatus preferred the most concentrated bulrush infusions, whereas Cx. tarsalis preferred intermediate concentrations. Female Cx. stigmatosoma and Culiseta incidens also were attracted. Overall, these results may provide new leads towards developing synthetic chemical baits to attract bloodfed mosquitoes.
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Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA.
Millar
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D009032:Mosquito Control; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts
D010936:Plant Extracts