Behavioral responses of Culex tarsalis to semiochemicals associated with the western mosquitofish, Gambuis affinis, in wind tunnel bioassays

The Western encephalitis mosquito, Culex tarsalis, has been shown to respond to the presence of fish-associated semiochemicals in oviposition sites by decreasing the number of egg rafts laid, in both laboratory and field bioassays.  A decrease in oviposition rate, on water that contained fish semiochemicals, has been attributed to the presence of different classes of chemical compounds which cause the mosquitoes to alter their behavior.  Whether or not the compounds present act solely as long or short-range deterrents has not been determined. In wind tunnel bioassays, we evaluated the resulting behavioral sequences of female C. tarsalis to chemicals associated with the Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, and their potential role on mosquito oviposition behavior.