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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249957
Title: Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Response to Organic Infusions from Common Flora of Suburban Florida

Author
item OBENAUER, P. - University Of Florida
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item KAUFMAN, P. - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Obenauer, P.J., Allan, S.A., Kaufman, P.E. 2010. Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Response to Organic Infusions from Common Flora of Suburban Florida. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 25(4):517-520.

Interpretive Summary: As an invasive species, the Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread across most of the southeastern United States and is currently encroaching into many of the northern states. The persistent biting and high association with residential areas makes this species one of the primary nuisance species in the United States. Effective traps for this species are critical for guidance of mosquito control efforts. In this study conducted at USDA’s Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) in Gainesville (FL), the responses of egg-laying females were evaluated to odors associated with mixtures of different vegetation associated with residential areas. Traps baited with pine and/or oak leaves effectively collected Ae. albopictus females and these may serve as important tools for research and mosquito surveillance and control programs.

Technical Abstract: We evaluated the oviposition response of Aedes albopictus to six organic infusions. Laboratory and field placed ovitraps baited with water oak (Quercus nigra L.), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris P. Mill) and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze), as well as two-species mixtures of each were used to determine infusion attractiveness by measuring the number of Ae. albopictus eggs oviposited, while an olfactometer was used to gauge gravid mosquito upwind response. Results demonstrated an Ae. albopictus preference for all infusions tested when compared to water alone, with a greater response to water oak and water oak-pine. However, a negative upwind response was observed with longleaf pine infusion. Environmental variables that may have altered the degree of infusion attractiveness in our study are also discussed.