Timing of host-seeking behaviour of the mosquitoes Anopheles annulipes sensu lato Walker and Coquillettidia linealis (Skuse) (Diptera : Culicidae) in the Murray River Valley, South Australia

Abstract

The timing of host-seeking behaviour was studied in two mosquito species, Anopheles annulipes sensulato and Coquillettidia linealis at Mundic Creek, near the Upper River Murray in South Australia. Hourly sampling using carbon dioxide-baited traps revealed consistent patterns in the timing of hostseeking. Coquillettidia linealis displayed a very large peak in host-seeking activity at sunset, followed by a much reduced level throughout the night and a smaller peak at sunrise. Anopheles annulipes s.l. differed by displaying a significantly smaller peak at sunset, followed by higher amount of activity throughout the night compared with Cq. linealis. The two taxa, while both crepuscular and nocturnal, spread their host-seeking effort out differently throughout the night, indicating that they have different resource requirements.