Attraction of Culex portesi Senevet & Abonnenc and Culex taeniopus Dyar & Knab (Diptera: Culicidae) to 20 animal species exposed in a Trinidad forest. I. Baits ranked by numbers of mosquitoes caught and engorged

Abstract

In an attempt to define the favoured hosts of Culex portesi Senevet & Abonnenc and C. taeniopus D. & K., one bat, ten rodents, four marsupials, two birds and one crustacean, one amphibian and one reptile were exposed in groups of six in suction traps located in a forest in Trinidad. Each group of six baits included two white mice as a standard. The numbers of mosquitoes caught at each bait on three or six replicate exposures were analysed by an analysis of variance to separate population and site variations. Baits were then compared for ' attractiveness' by ranking according to an adjusted mean catch for each mosquito species. The proportion of each mosquito species that engorged on individual baits was also determined. In some cases, attraction and engorgement varied widely, and this was attributed to defensive action on the part of the bait animal. It was concluded that C. taeniopus was particularly attracted by the opossum Didelphis, which was superior to all indigenous mammals, while C. portesi was attracted to a wide range of rodents and marsupials. Neither was attracted by the cold-blooded animals. Both mosquitoes engorged well on the relatively insensitive marsupials with long bare tails, Didelphis, Marmosa and Caluromys, and also on the well-furred but diurnal squirrel. Of the mainly nocturnal remainder, Culex portesi showed higher engorgement rates than C. taeniopus, suggesting a more aggressive or persistent feeding behaviour.

Identification and Genomic Analysis of a Novel Group C Orthobunyavirus Isolated from a Mosquito Captured near Iquitos, Peru

“…Culex portesi , the species from which El Huayo virus was isolated, is a common species known to preferentially feed on rodents and marsupials [ 43 , 44 ] and numerous viruses, including Caraparu-like viruses have been isolated from this species [ 45 – 47 ]. The ability of El Huayo virus to replicate to fairly high titer in hamsters indicates that like many other Group C virus, rodents may be involved in the natural maintenance cycle for this virus [ 48 ].…”

Data-driven identification of potential Zika virus vectors

“…(2016) Culex p. molestus Robinson (2005), Gomes et al (2013) Culex perexiguus Muñoz et al (2012), Ammar et al (2012) Culex perfuscus Hopkins (1952), Diallo et al (2014), Service (1993) Culex pipiens Harbach (1988), Anderson et al (2007) Culex poicilipes Muturi et al (2008), Yamar et al (2005), Chevalier et al (2004) Culex pruina Wanson and Lebred (1946) Culex pseudovishnui Fakoorziba and Vijayan (2008), Reisen et al (1976), Amerasinghe and Indrajith (1995), Reuben et al (1992) Culex pullus Johansen et al (2009), Webb et al (2016) Culex quinquefasciatus Flordia Medical Entomology Laboratory (2016), DeGroote and Sugumaran (2012) Culex restuans Apperson et al (2002), Ebel et al (2005), Kilpatrick et al (2005), Molaei et al (2008) Culex rubinotus Jupp et al (1976) Culex salinarius Rochlin et al (2008), Mackay et al (2010), Rey et al (2006) Culex sitiens NSW Health (2016), Prummongkol et al (2012) Culex spissipes Takahashi (1968), Degallier et al (1978) Culex squamoses NSW Health (2016), Jansen et al (2009) Culex taeniopus Davies (1978), 1975), Lopes (1996)…”

Insects in Flight

“…Even now an effective way to collect individual tsetse flies is to "poot" them off the surface of a human or animal bait, and Coupland (1994) used a similar method to assess the activity and behavior of Simulium in Scotland. Alternatively a suction trap may be placed directly above a small animal bait, as has been used to trap various nuisance flies in Trinidad (Davies 1978). The practical problems of using such traps are easily imagined and they are not now widely used, except in conjunction with small bait animals such as rabbits.…”