ARS | Publication request: Do I stay or do I go? Predicting mosquito behavior in the presence of repellents, insecticides, and attractants

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 28, 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. 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. Detected behavioral changes will be discussed in terms of differences in “modes of action” between the two chemicals and the potential role of behavioral analysis in evaluation of future chemical repellents.