Orientation of Some Florida Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Toward Small Vertebrates and Carbon Dioxide in the Field1

Abstract

All-night catches in 32 radially arranged ramp traps were compared for evidence of wind-influenced flight orientation and to investigate the range at which various Florida mosquitoes respond to air-borne host stimuli. Culex nigripalpus displayed strong upwind orientation both with and without animal bait, while the flight pattern of Culex pilosus was scarcely influenced by wind direction. Species showing a positive response to the multiple hosts exposed appeared to begin orienting toward the bait about 15 m away and the response increased the nearer they approached, i.e., at 10 and 5 m.