Studies of temporal host-seeking patterns of Culex annulirostris (Diptera: Culicidae): a comparison of methods and populations
Date
2004
Authors
Williams, C.R.
Snell, A.
Kokkinn, M.J.
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Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 2004; 128(2):225-229
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Abstract
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of hourly carbon-dioxide baited trapping as an alternative to human biting catch for determining the timing of mosquito biting behaviour, and to confirm that previously reported temporal host-seeking patterns for Culex annulirostris are valid across its geographic range. Female Cx. annulirostris were captured hourly using concurrent human biting catch and carbon-dioxide baited trapping. This was performed in two regions of South Australia (SA): the northeast and the Upper River Murray regions, in January 2001. Significant correlations in hourly captures of Cx. annulirostris using the two methods were detected. Surprisingly, differences in temporal host-seeking activity patterns of this species were discovered between the two regions and differed partially from previously reported findings, indicating that the behaviour of this species is heterogeneous across its range. Carbon-dioxide baited traps yield very similar temporal host-seeking patterns to human-biting catches, thereby providing an alternative sampling method. Carbon-dioxide baited traps may be used to study temporal biting patterns of mosquitoes in order to reduce the disease risk to investigators. Behavioural variations in widespread mosquito species (such as Cx. annulirostris) may have implications for the management of mosquito-borne diseases.
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