Adult Culex Quinquefasciatus Research Articles

Evaluation of ultra-low volume treatments on Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) abundance and relative age by parity dissection.

St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District relies on ultra-low volume (ULV) insecticides to manage adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Say 1823), the primary vector of West Nile virus in Louisiana, but abundance rarely declines post-treatment. Three field ULV applications each of adulticides containing deltamethrin, naled, or resmethrin were conducted from May through October 2022 to measure efficacy against free-flying Cx. quinquefasciatus. Female mosquitoes trapped before and after treatment were identified, counted, and age-graded by parity dissection. No insecticide applications reduced Cx. quinquefasciatus abundance, but trials with deltamethrin and naled significantly lowered average mosquito age in the area post-treatment. No trials with resmethrin reduced mosquito age, which corroborates laboratory susceptibility data indicating local resistance toward the pyrethroid. These trials establish parity dissections and relative age gradation as a means of measuring treatment success against Cx. quinquefasciatus.

Comparison of 3 DNA extraction methods for extracting DNA from an adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

The aim of this study was to compare 3 DNA extraction methods: the PureLink Genomic DNA kit, DNAzol Direct reagent, and a microwave-based method, for extracting DNA from an adult Culex quinquefasciatus by focusing on the quantity and purity of DNA, cost, and time required. Ten mosquitoes were individually used for DNA extraction by each method. Based on the results obtained, DNA was extracted from each method using specific primers, resulting in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product with a length of 274 bp. The DNA quantity extracted using the DNAzol Direct (179.08 ± 3.77 ng/µl) differs significantly from that of the commercial kit (115.98 ± 4.57 ng/µl) and a microwave-based method (119.26 ± 3.06 ng/µl). The absorbance ratio of DNA extracted using the PureLink Genomic DNA kit, the DNAzol Direct, and the microwave-based methods was 1.92 ± 0.02, 1.79 ± 0.01, and 1.87 ± 0.01, respectively. Among the 3 methods evaluated, the microwave-based method is simpler, less expensive, and more time efficient. This is the first evaluation of the microwave-based method for extracting DNA from an adult mosquito. This study provides a useful guide for alternative DNA extraction methods for PCR-based assays, especially in low-resource settings.

Efficacy of Petiveria Alliacea (Linneaus) leaf and root bark powder in the control of filariasis vector Culex Quinquefasciatus

BackgroundMosquitoes are vectors of parasitic diseases such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis, yellow fever, and dengue fever among others. They are well known as public enemies for their noise nuisance, biting annoyance, sleeplessness, allergic reactions, and diseases transmission during the biting and feeding activities. This then necessitate the search for insecticides of plant origin which are bio-degradable, non-toxic, and readily available for man use.ResultThis study, evaluated the fumigant efficacy of the powder of P. alliacea to control the adult stage of Culex mosquito. Powder of Petiveria alliacea were administered at different dose of (1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, and 5 g), respectively. Result obtained shows the fumigant effect of the powder were effective with percentage mortality of 18.33–60.00% for the leaf powder and 23.30–71.60% for the root powder within 2 h post-treatment period (P < 0.05). The synergistic effect of the leaf and root powder was also investigated. The lethal dosage (LD50) of the leaf, root, and synergistic effect of leaf and root bark powder required to kill 50% of the adult Culex quinquefasciatus was 3.76 g, 2.86 g, and 2.63 g, respectively. However, 25.06 g, 15.25 g, and 12.94 g of the leaf, root, and leaf and root powder were required to kill 90% (LD90) after a 2-h exposure period.ConclusionThese finding suggested P. alliacea powder could be a good source of insecticide which may be used for the production of biopesticides. The present findings have important implications in the practical control of adult mosquito by using botanical insecticides. These plant powders are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and safe for use in mosquito control.

Fumigant toxicity and phytochemical analysis of Petiveria alliacea (Linneaus) leaf and root bark oil on adult Culex quinquefasciatus

BackgroundCulex mosquitoes are a major vector of public health importance and have been implicated for the transmission of some parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and West Nile virus. It has also been reported to cause several problems which include developing resistance to synthetic insecticides, thus, necessitating the search for an insecticide of botanical origin which is bio-degradable, non-toxic, and readily available for man’s use. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals present in Petiveria alliacea and the fumigant efficacy of its oil extract against the adult stage of Culex quinquefasciatus.ResultsThe result obtained shows that the oil extract of Petiveria alliacea at all concentrations had a significant effect on the adult mosquito for fumigant toxicity with percentage mortality range of 75.00–100% within a 2-h exposure period (P < 0.05) for the leaf extract and 81.67–100% mortality for the root bark extract. The synergistic effect of the leaf and root bark oil was also investigated. The lethal concentration (LC50) of the leaf, root, and synergistic effect of leaf and root oil extract required to kill 50% of the adult Culex quinquefasciatus was 0.45 ml, 0.53 ml, and 0.47 ml, respectively. However, 2.20 ml, 1.194 ml, and 1.15 ml of the leaf, root, and leaf and root oil extract were required to kill 90% (LC90) after a 2-h exposure period. A total of 29 organic compounds were isolated from leaf and root bark oil of the plant. The study has revealed that the leaves and root bark of Petiveria alliacea are rich in phytochemicalsConclusionThese findings suggested Petiveria alliacea oil extract could be a good source of insecticide which may be used for the production of biopesticides. The present findings have important implications in the practical control of adult mosquito by using botanical insecticides. These plant extracts are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and safe for mosquito control which possesses enough insecticidal potential and can be used directly around human dwellings. The result suggests possible utilization of the cheap and readily available botanicals for possible control of mosquitoes as part of an integrated vector management programme.

Susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southern Louisiana to Larval Insecticides.

Mosquito control districts conduct rigorous insecticide treatments against both larval and adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), the primary vector of West Nile virus in the southern United States. However, the development of resistant populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus in response to extensive larvicide or adulticide applications has been demonstrated repeatedly across the world. Examining changes in insecticide susceptibility in treated field areas can help inform mosquito control districts as to whether or not their treatments remain effective. We hypothesized that frequent insecticide applications for the control of mosquitoes in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, lowered susceptibility of wild Cx. quinquefasciatus to larvicides. Larvicide susceptibility was measured using Lysinibacillus sphaericus, spinosad, and temephos in populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus sampled from sites in three Parishes where frequencies of insecticide applications varied, and frequencies of resistance were measured relative to a susceptible reference colony. Susceptibility to these larvicides was widespread, although fourfold resistance to the organophosphate temephos was detected at one site in East Baton Rouge Parish in the spring of 2016, which increased to eightfold resistance by the end of the mosquito season. Activities of esterases were found to be elevated in wild, temephos-resistant mosquitoes, indicating the potential role of these enzymes as a mechanism of resistance. The results of this study provide a baseline of comparison for future measurements of susceptibility in Cx. quinquefasciatus in Louisiana, and may help inform local mosquito control districts as to the effectiveness and sustainability of their insecticide programs.

Impact of Topical Application Site On the Efficacy of Permethrin and Malathion To Culex quinquefasciatus.

Although insecticide spray droplets will potentially impinge on many exoskeletal body regions, traditional mosquito topical bioassays focus insecticide application to the mesothoracic pleural or dorsal area. Concentrations of permethrin and malathion found in droplets from ultra-low volume and low-volume sprays were evaluated for efficacy against adult Culex quinquefasciatus using a topical application bioassay. Results document nonuniform insecticide sensitivity across body regions, which has not been previously assessed in mosquitoes. Insecticide contact with appendages, such as the leg and the wing, returned much lower mortality from both insecticides than exposure to the primary body (i.e., head, thorax, and abdomen). No difference was observed in percent mortality 24 h after exposure to different insecticides to the same body region. Sublethal behaviors were also observed and discussed for both insecticides. Our findings provide valuable information for those performing topical bioassays, and may help explain insecticide effectiveness wherever droplets impinge upon the mosquito body during laboratory or field applications.

Some observations on overwintering sites of adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and strategies followed under natural and seminatural conditions.

Field population of adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say, landed in December, congregated and overwintered in indoor artificial sites in Delhi. Repeated sampling strategy by individually collecting the adults was adopted to study their overwintering strategies for 4 years (December to April). They remained vagile and readily repopulated the resting sites after the removal of samples. A large percentage of females was fertile, unfed and nulliparous indicating that reproduction ceased in them. Adult survival was significantly prolonged to a maximum of 3 months under natural conditions. Gonotrophic cycle also got prolonged. Close to quitting, they became gravid and left in April without oviposition. No adults were observed on the sites for the rest of the year. Oviposition was induced in the blood-engorged females when provided with food, water and outdoor conditions. Oviposition might have been induced directly by water and food provided them energy under seminatural conditions. Eggs were laid singly or in the form of rafts, and the number in both the cases was low. Singly laid eggs did not hatch, and in rafts, hatching was ~80 %. Winter conditions seemed to strongly impact fertility, blood feeding, fecundity, oviposition behaviour, egg hatchability and longevity. Use of the overwintering sites as biological tool, as a part of environmental control in IPM, is suggested for organising antivector measures during winter. There is a need of exploring and creating more sites of this kind.

Adulticidal bioassay and repellency potentiality of fruits of&lt;i&gt; Drypetes roxburghii &lt;/i&gt;on&lt;i&gt; Culex quinquefasciatus&lt;/i&gt; and&lt;i&gt; Anopheles stephensi&lt;/i&gt;

The present study was designed to evaluate adulticidal efficacy and repellency potentiality of crude and ethyl acetate extracts of mature fruits of Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurus., against the adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Anopheles stephensi Liston following appropriate protocols. In both the species of mosquitoes, mortality rate increased gradually with increased concentrations of ethyl acetate extract. LC 50 and LC 90 values of ethyl acetate extract were 109.62 ppm and 189.01 ppm for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 95.41 ppm, 181.96 ppm for An. stephensi respectively in adulticidal bioassay. An. stephensi was more susceptible to ethyl acetate extract than Cx. quinquefasciatus. Both crude and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant repellency potentiality. 99 % concentration of ethyl acetate extract conferred 100 % protection against biting activity of both the species of mosquitoes up to 120 minutes.

Ability of Newly Emerged Adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes to Exit Belowground Stormwater Treatment Systems via Lateral Conveyance Pipes

Culex quinquefasciatus Say mosquitoes flourish in belowground stormwater systems in the southern United States. Recent evidence suggests that oviposition-site-seeking females may have difficulties locating, entering, and ovipositing inside permanent water chambers when surface entry through pickholes in manhole covers are sealed. It remains unknown, however, if newly emerged adults are able to detect cues necessary to exit these partly sealed systems via lateral conveyance pipes or if they perish belowground. Fourth instar Cx. quinquefasciatus were placed within proprietary belowground stormwater treatment systems to determine the percentage of newly emerged adults able to escape treatment chambers via a single lateral conveyance pipe. Overall, 56% of deployed mosquitoes were captured in adult exit traps with an 1:1 male:female ratio. The percentage of adults captured varied significantly among chambers, but was not associated with structural site characteristics such as the chamber depth or the length and course of conveyance pipe to the exit trap. Empirical observations suggested that longbodied cellar spiders, Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin), ubiquitous in these structures, may have reduced adult trap capture. Findings demonstrate that newly emerged Cx. quinquefasciatus can exit subterranean chambers under potentially difficult structural conditions but suggest that a portion may perish in the absence of surface exit points in manhole shafts.

Genome Analysis of Cytochrome P450s and Their Expression Profiles in Insecticide Resistant Mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus

Here we report a study of the 204 P450 genes in the whole genome sequence of larvae and adult Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The expression profiles of the P450 genes were compared for susceptible (S-Lab) and resistant mosquito populations, two different field populations of mosquitoes (HAmCq and MAmCq), and field parental mosquitoes (HAmCq G0 and MAmCqG0) and their permethrin selected offspring (HAmCq G8 and MAmCqG6). While the majority of the P450 genes were expressed at a similar level between the field parental strains and their permethrin selected offspring, an up- or down-regulation feature in the P450 gene expression was observed following permethrin selection. Compared to their parental strains and the susceptible S-Lab strain, HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6 were found to up-regulate 11 and 6% of total P450 genes in larvae and 7 and 4% in adults, respectively, while 5 and 11% were down-regulated in larvae and 4 and 2% in adults. Although the majority of these up- and down-regulated P450 genes appeared to be developmentally controlled, a few were either up- or down-regulated in both the larvae and adult stages. Interestingly, a different gene set was found to be up- or down-regulated in the HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6 mosquito populations in response to insecticide selection. Several genes were identified as being up- or down-regulated in either the larvae or adults for both HAmCqG8 and MAmCqG6; of these, CYP6AA7 and CYP4C52v1 were up-regulated and CYP6BY3 was down-regulated across the life stages and populations of mosquitoes, suggesting a link with the permethrin selection in these mosquitoes. Taken together, the findings from this study indicate that not only are multiple P450 genes involved in insecticide resistance but up- or down-regulation of P450 genes may also be co-responsible for detoxification of insecticides, insecticide selection, and the homeostatic response of mosquitoes to changes in cellular environment.

Thermal Fog Efficacy Tests Against Mosquitoes in Storm Drains in Harris County, Texas 2008–091

In 2008 and 2009, our current thermal fogging methods and materials were evaluated in underground systems against feral and laboratory strains of adult Culex quinquefasciatus. Culex quinquefasciatus adults collected from storm drain systems the night before treatment were tested concurrently with adults from a susceptible laboratory strain (Sebring) in 10 separate tests. During 2008, there were no significant differences in the low mean percent control obtained between any of the feral populations (29.39%) and susceptible (Sebring) populations (56.04%) tested, whereas in 2009, application of mineral oil alone yielded extremely low, but significantly different mean percent control at 0.99% for ferals and 0.01% for Sebrings. During 2009 mineral oil evaluations, 45,677 droplets were collected in storm drains at distances of 99.1, 50.6, 57.9, 67.7, and 109.7 m from the application site, with 99% of the droplets below 3 microm in diam; additionally, we found no significant differences between mean percent control of Sebring and feral mosquito populations using the higher (3.2x) 1:10 application rate of Pyrocide. However, mean percent control between the feral and susceptible strain (Sebring) during 2009 was lower than in 2008 at 16.55% for ferals and 24.43% in Sebrings. Results indicated that control methodologies and/or chemicals used were ineffective at controlling Cx. quinquefasciatus in storm drains using the chosen experimental design. Based upon this information, thermal fog operations were discontinued due to lack of effectiveness.

&lt;I&gt;Culex&lt;/I&gt; Flavivirus Isolates from Mosquitoes in Guatemala

A new strain of Culex flavivirus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, CxFV), an insect virus first described in Japan, was isolated from adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in 2006 from Izabal Department on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala. Mosquito pools were assayed for flavivirus RNA by using flavivirus group-specific primers that amplified a 720-bp region of the nonstructural (NS) 5 gene by standard reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. From 210 pools (1,699 mosquitoes), eight tested positive, and six of these mosquito pools produced virus isolates in Aedes albopictus Skuse C6/36 cells. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the eight flavivirus RNA-positive pools showed that there was 100% identity among them, and phylogenetic analysis of the NS5 and envelope gene regions indicated that they represent a strain of the recently described CxFV from Japan. This is the first report of an insect flavivirus from Central America.

Culex Flavivirus Isolates from Mosquitoes in Guatemala

A new strain of Culex flavivirus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, CxFV), an insect virus first described in Japan, was isolated from adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in 2006 from Izabal Department on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala. Mosquito pools were assayed for flavivirus RNA by using flavivirus group-specific primers that amplified a 720-bp region of the nonstructural (NS) 5 gene by standard reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. From 210 pools (1,699 mosquitoes), eight tested positive, and six of these mosquito pools produced virus isolates in Aedes albopictus Skuse C6/36 cells. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the eight flavivirus RNA-positive pools showed that there was 100% identity among them, and phylogenetic analysis of the NS5 and envelope gene regions indicated that they represent a strain of the recently described CxFV from Japan. This is the first report of an insect flavivirus from Central America.

LABORATORY EVALUATION OF A DYED FOOD MARKING TECHNIQUE FOR CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

A method of marking adult Culex quinquefasciatus by feeding the larvae commercial hog chow dyed with methylene blue, Giemsa, and crystal violet was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Of 243 mosquitoes fed the dyed food, 230 had visible marks (94.6%). The dyed food increased the egg-adult development time from 11.4 to 12.1 d. After 9 d, 82.5% of adult mosquitoes dyed as larvae could be identified, and remained detectable for up to 15 d, their maximum laboratory life.

Postvitellogenic metabolism of the mosquito ( Culex quinquefasciatus) ovary

Adult Culex quinquefasciatus retain mature eggs until a suitable oviposition site is available. Females were fed blood, and then maintained either on sugar (control) or on water (starving). Seven days later, egg rafts of starving females contained 60% of the glycogen that was found in the controls. If starving females are fed on sugar for one day glycogen is restored to control levels. Feeding on sugar for 7 days, followed by 7 days on water also diminished the glycogen of egg rafts by 40%. When females were fed on blood, then starved for 5 days or more, the incorporation of [ 14C]glucose into the glycogen of ovaries incubated in vitro was 10–15 times higher than that of sugar-fed controls. Synthesis in vitro was similar to that in vivo. For the first two days after the blood meal, during yolk formation, the ovary did not synthesize glycogen or lipids. The incorporation of [ 14C]glucose into lipids was less than into glycogen, and was also stimulated by starvation. These results indicate, that the postvitellogenic mosquito oöcyte remains permeable to certain haemolymph constituents and contains glycogen and lipid-synthesizing enzymes that are activated by sugar-deprivation, after chorionation and degeneration of follicular epithelium.

Toxicity of Bacillus sphaericus crystal toxin to adult mosquitoes.

Adult Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were killed by alkaline-solubilized Bacillus sphaericus toxin when it was introduced by enema into the midgut of the insect but not when it was administered orally. Adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were not affected by the toxin.

A study of population changes in adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) during a mosquito control programme in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The effectiveness of insecticidal control measures on adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was examined. Direct treatment of the study site with cypermethrin applied as a fog caused a temporary reduction both in total numbers (males and females) and in the proportion of older females. When cypermethrin was applied as an ultra low volume formulation at dusk and dawn numbers of males were greatly reduced, but numbers of females were not affected. It appears that the adulticiding operations had little overall effect on the total numbers or survival rate of females, or breeding success. The oviposition cycle duration was estimated to be two days, with the survival rate per oviposition cycle calculated as 30%. With these values it is thought unlikely that filariasis would be transmitted in Dubai.

Establishment of a line of cells derived from ovarian tissue of Clex quinquefasciatus Say.

A line of mosquito cells derived from ovarian tissue of adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) was established and grown successfully in vitro. The cells were epithelioid in appearance and firmly attached to the vessel surface, forming monolayers. Two distinct types of cells were observed, spindle-shaped and round. Serial subcultivation of the cells was carried through 93 passages from January to December 1969. The culture medium contained fetal bovine serum in place of insect hemolymph. Most of the cells in this line contained a diploid number of chromosomes (n is 3).