title: Host selection patterns of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) at wetlands near the Salton Sea, Coachella Valley, California, 1998-2002.
abstract: The bloodmeal hosts used by Culex tarsalis Coquillett collected along the Salton Sea in Coachella Valley, CA, during 1998-2002 were identified using sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene identified from Barcode of Life database. Overall, 265 (83.3%) of 318 bloodmeals were identified, of which 76.6% fed on birds, 18.1% on mammals, and 5.3% on reptiles. Forty-seven different hosts were identified, none of which comprised > 12.5% of the total. Although Cx. tarsalis exhibits specific host-seeking flight patterns, bloodmeals seemed to be acquired opportunistically, thereby limiting potential arbovirus transmission efficiency in species-rich environments.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vectorborne Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. wkreisen@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Reisen
authors.forename: Hugh D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lothrop
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thiemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D002140:California; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D008322:Mammals / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D012104:Reptiles / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D053833:Wetlands