Development, growth, and survival of Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Aedes aegypti (L.) were determined at six constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 34 degrees C). The Sharpe & DeMichele four-parameter model with high-temperature inhibition described the temperature-dependent median developmental rates of both mosquito species. In both species, body size generally decreased as temperature increased. Head capsule widths in all instars in both species were significantly greater at 15 than at 30-34 degrees C. Except for the third instar of Ae. aegypti, the larval body lengths in both species were significantly greater at 15 than at 34 degrees C. All instars and pupae of both species and the adults in Cx. quinquefasciatus were significantly heavier at 15 than at 27-34 degrees C. In Cx. quinquefasciatus, survival from eclosion to adult emergence was highest in the range from 20 to 30 degrees C (85-90%) and dropped drastically at 15 (38%) and 34 degrees C (42%). In Ae. aegypti, survival to adult stage was high at 20 (92%) and 27 degrees C (90%) and lowest at 15 degrees C (3%).

Identification keys are provided for female adults and fourth stage larvae of the mosquito species likely to transmit dengue viruses in 4 regions of the world. The keys are illustrated with Auto-Montage photomicrographs, allowing optimum depth of field and resolution. Species included for the Afrotropical Region are: Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus), Ae. (Stg.) africanus (Theobald),Ae. (Stg.) albopictus (Skuse), Ae. (Stg.) luteocephalus (Newstead), Ae. (Stg.) opok Corbet and Van Someren, Ae. (Diceromyia) furcifer (Edwards), and Ae. (Dic.) taylori Edwards; for the South Pacific Islands and Australian Region: Ae. (Stg.) aegypti, Ae. (Stg.) albopictus, Ae. (Stg.) cooki Belkin, Ae. (Stg.) hebrideus Edwards, Ae. (Stg.) hensilli Farner, Ae. (Stg.) polynesiensis Marks, Ae. (Stg.) rotumae Belkin, Ae. (Stg.) scutellaris (Walker), and Ochlerotatus (Finlaya) notoscriptus (Skuse); for the Oriental Region: Ae. (Stg.) aegypti, Ae. (Stg.) albopictus, and Oc. (Fin.) niveus subgroup; and for the American Region (North, Central and South America, including the Caribbean Islands): Ae. (Stg.) aegypti, Ae. (Stg.) albopictus, and Oc. (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus (Coquillett).

The host-feeding patterns of mosquitoes (n = 247) collected in the Borough of Queens in New York City in July and August 2000 were investigated using an indirect ELISA and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-heteroduplex assay. Culex pipiens L. and Cx. restuans Theobald fed primarily on birds, and their feeding habits support their implication as enzootic vectors of West Nile virus. Culex salinarius Coquillett and Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) fed mainly on mammals, with fewer blood meals taken from birds, and these two species are potential bridge vectors of West Nile virus. Culex mosquitoes took blood meals (n = 54) from 11 different avian species. Only the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), American robin (Turdus migratorius), and Brown-headed cow bird (MolIothrus ater) were fed upon by all three Culex species. Multiple blood feedings on avian hosts were detected in Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans. Species identifications of Culex mosquitoes made using morphological characteristics were confirmed with a PCR assay that employed species-specific primers. All Cx. pipiens (n = 20) and Cx. salinarius (n = 10) specimens were correctly identified, but three (20%) of 15 Cx. restuans were misidentified as Cx. pipiens.

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