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Responses of female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to host odours and convection currents using an olfactometer bioassay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Alvaro E. Eiras  and
P. C. Jepson
Alvaro E. Eiras*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Southampton, UK
P. C. Jepson
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Southampton, UK
*
Lab. Controle Biologico, CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos (RJ), 28015-620, Brazil.
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Abstract

The responses of female Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) to a variety of stimuli were studied using an olfactometer bioassay. Mosquitoes responded significantly to convection currents produced by a human hand. The addition of water vapour to convection currents enhanced significantly the mosquitoes' response. Lactic acid, either alone or in combination with water vapour or/and convection currents however, did not increase the response level. Sweat extract elicited higher response than convection currents, water vapour and lactic acid. Human hands elicited significantly higher responses than any other stimuli. The presence of active chemicals other than lactic acid in human odour extract is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 207 - 211
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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