Culex quinquefasciatus is considered to be a major vector involved in the transmission of West Nile virus to humans in the Southeastern United States. Currently, there is little information on the nature of chemical cues used by females of this species to locate blood for feeding and sites for oviposition. Based on observations that bovine blood attracts this mosquito for subsequent feeding in colony, analysis of the headspace volatiles above blood was conducted by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The methods used for headspace analysis were also employed in the analysis of volatiles from hay infusions for the identification of candidate oviposition attractants.
Species 1: Diptera Culicidae Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito)
Keywords: traps, GC/MS
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