LABORATORY AND FIELD STUDIES ON THE BIONOMICS OF Culex quinquefasciatus SAY (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) IN PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2010-12
Authors
HAMZAH, SITI NASUHA
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The biting cycle and seasonal abundance of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito were studied for 14 months from February 2008 to Mac 2009 in Penang using the bare-leg-catch technique. Twelve hours collections ( 1900-0700 hours) were conducted to determine the biting cycle of Cx. quinquefasciatus whereas five-hour collections (21 00-01 00 hours) were conducted to determine its seasonal abundance. The seasonal abundance of Cx. quinquefasciatus was closely related to the rainfall pattern in both study sites (Bayan Lepas; r = 0.948 and Juru; r = 0.591). A correlation exists between monthly temperature and number collected in Bayan Lepas (r = -0.646) and Juru (r = -0.513). The population of Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes seemed to be influenced by mean monthly relative humidity in Bayan Lepas (r = 0.749) and Juru (r = 0.539). The biting cycle in both study sites showed that the mosquitoes were active throughout the night with two distinct peaks, first between 2344 hour to 0045 hour and the second at 0345 hour. Culex quinquefasciatus exhibited a major peak of abundance in September for both study sites which corresponded with high rainfall. The number of eggs per raft of the VCRU strain was significantly higher than both the Juru and Bayan Lepas strains. When kept individually in cups only 10% to 25% female Cx. quinquefasciatus successfully reached their fourth gonotrophic cycle. The male to female ratio of adults successfully emerged was almost 1: 1. The artificial membrane feeding technique showed potential in mosquito culture where 72% to 90% mosquitoes were observed engorged in this study. Blood feeding was not influenced by blood from different host types [F(3, 16) =3 .549, p>0.05]. The mean percentage of engorged females that laid eggs ranged from 86.4'%;'0 to 95.9% for all host blood types. An almost similar pattern of fecundity and sex ratio were determined for Cx. quinquefasciatus fed through artificial membrane feeding and through direct feeding techniques [F( 4,95) = 0.158, p>0.05].
Description
Keywords
BIONOMICS , Culex quinquefasciatus
Citation