Early Evening Questing and Oviposition Activity by the Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) Vectors of West Nile Virus in Northeastern North America

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 211 - 214
• Main Authors: Reddy, Michael R., Lepore, Timothy J., Pollack, Richard J., Kiszewski, Anthony E., Spielman, Andrew, Reiter, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lanham, MD Entomological Society of America 01-03-2007
• Subjects: Animals; avian hosts; BEHAVIOR, CHEMICAL ECOLOGY; Biological and medical sciences; birds; Columbidae; Culex; Culex - physiology; diel periodicity; diurnal variation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; host seeking; insect vectors; Insect Vectors - physiology; Insecta; Invertebrates; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; New England; nocturnal activity; oviposition; Oviposition - physiology; Ovum; Periodicity; Predatory Behavior - physiology; seasonal variation; Starlings; Time Factors; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; West Nile Fever - transmission; West Nile virus; Massachusetts; North America; America; New England; Insecta; Periodicity; Parasite; Activity; Host; Culex; oviposition; Flavivirus; Searching behavior; Virus; host seeking; Arthropoda; Egg laying; West Nile virus; Culicidae; Japanese encephalitis group virus; Ectoparasite; Flaviviridae; Invertebrata; Vector; Diptera; diel periodicity
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585%282007%2944%5B211%3AEEQAOA%5D2.0.CO%3B2

To determine whether the Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) in the northeastern United States seek hosts and oviposit contemporaneously, we recorded when these mosquitoes attacked caged birds and when they deposited eggs. They traversed oviposition sites most frequently ≈2 h after astronomical sunset, and eggs generally were deposited at that time. Although they most frequently approached avian hosts ≈2 h after sunset during midsummer, they are more opportunistic during mid- to late fall. Because the Culex mosquitoes that serve as the main vectors of West Nile virus in the northeastern United States quest for hosts and seek to oviposit well after sunset, insecticidal aerosols would be most effective when applied at that time.