Interaction of the Culex quinquefasciatus egg raft pheromone with a natural chemical associated with oviposition sites

Abstract

In laboratory bioassays, gravid Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were strongly attracted and or stimulated to oviposit by a habitat-derived chemical cue, 3-methylindole, at several concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 microgram/liter in water. At concentrations above 10 micrograms/liter, 3-methylindole became repellent or deterrent. Responses to the known egg raft pheromone, 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide, were much weaker and were relatively constant above a threshold dosage of about 0.1 microgram. Responses to blends of a fixed amount of the pheromone with variable doses of 3-methylindole were shown to be additive rather than synergistic.