Biting density, behavior and age distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus, say in Mysore City, India.

The seasonal abundance, night indoor biting behavior and parity of Culex quinquefasciatus were investigated for a period of one year from June 1988 to May 1989 in Mysore City. Twelve-hour night-time biting catches were carried out from 1800-0600 hours at four selected urban localities. The biting cycle revealed that Cx. quinquefasciatus was active throughout the night, with peak activity at 2200-2300 hours. The biting proportion of nulliparous and parous mosquitos during different hours of the night showed that nulliparous mosquitos increased from 1800 to 0600 hours (dusk to dawn), while parous mosquitos (aged) decreased from early night to the morning. One major and two minor biting peaks were encountered here. The maximum density noticed was during March 1989 (147.5 per man night) and the lowest was during July 1988 (58.3 per man night). The biting behavior/density of this important urban mosquito vector under the existing climatic conditions are discussed in the light of the earlier reports elsewhere.

Indoor resting density, survival rate and host preference of Culex quinquefasciatus say (Diptera: Culicidae) in Mysore City.

Monthly indoor resting density, age distribution, survival rate and host-preference of Culex quinquefasciatus, a filariasis vector were studied from June 1988 to May 1989 in Mysore city. During this period, a total of 7522 adults were collected in 72 man-hour of search spreading to twelve spots covering the entire city. The annual per man-hour density observed was 104.5, being 76.8 for female and 24.3 for male. Nulliparous and parous (1-parous and 2-parous) mosquitoes were collected throughout the year while 3-parous and 4-parous mosquitoes were recorded during cold and rainy seasons only showing an increase in the number of gonotrophic cycles. Precipitin test of blood smears from the gut content of C. quinquefasciatus was done by taking 2536 mosquito blood smears. Of these, 94.1 per cent preferred human blood, 1.4 per cent bovine and 3 per cent avain. As the species evaluated is a major vector of filariasis, the present study on its resting density and the host preference will be helpful in vector monitoring in Mysore city. Various results on this species at Mysore have been discussed in the light of earlier studies conducted elsewhere.