ARS | Publication request: Predicting mosquito behavior in the presence of repellents, insecticides, and attractants

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 24, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Personal protective measures, such as repellents and insecticides, are designed to prevent arthropods from landing, feeding, and transmitting disease to humans. Some of these chemicals block mosquito odor binding receptors and others are contact irritants. Although chemical products are effective and frequently used, their affects beyond reducing biting rates is rarely studied. The behavior of Culex quinquefasciatus was filmed in a special bioassay box designed to restrict movement to a single plane around the attractant. Mosquito movements were tracked through time to analyze behavior in the presence of an untreated-, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)- or permethrin-treated sleeve on a human arm. Changes in number of mosquitoes in flight and the proximity of mosquitoes to the blood meal will be discussed. Additionally the spatial repellency of the two chemicals and the potential role of behavioral analysis in evaluation of future chemical repellents will be evaluated.