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1 March 2006 Electroantennogram and Behavioral Responses of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Females to Chemicals Found in Human Skin Emanations
Sarika N. Puri, M. J. Mendki, D. Sukumaran, K. Ganesan, Shri Prakash, K. Sekhar, Shri Prakash
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Abstract

The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), is closely associated with humans and is a vector of filariasis. Use of semiochemicals for control of mosquitoes is a novel and potentially ecofriendly control approach. Human skin emanations are known to attract mosquitoes. In the current study, olfactory and behavioral responses of host-seeking female Cx. quinquefasciatus to various chemical components of human skin emanations (carboxylic acids, alcohols, and aldehydes) were evaluated separately at three doses (0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg) for electroantennogram (EAG) and three doses (0.1, 1, and 10 μg) for behavioral assay. Results of EAG studies indicated that all carboxylic acids elicited significant olfactory responses except tetradecanoic acid (C14) and octadecanoic acid (C18). In particular, hexanoic acid (C6) elicited a maximum, eight-fold olfactory response compared with the solvent control. Ethylene glycol and benzyl alcohol exhibited significant EAG and behavioral responses, whereas among aldehydes, nonanal elicited high EAG and behavioral responses, but only at all three doses tested compared with control. Some carboxylic acids elicited significant behavioral responses, attracting ≈75% of females tested toward chemical stimuli in a Y-tube olfactometer.

Sarika N. Puri, M. J. Mendki, D. Sukumaran, K. Ganesan, Shri Prakash, K. Sekhar, and Shri Prakash "Electroantennogram and Behavioral Responses of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Females to Chemicals Found in Human Skin Emanations," Journal of Medical Entomology 43(2), 207-213, (1 March 2006). https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585(2006)043[0207:EABROC]2.0.CO;2
Received: 27 April 2004; Accepted: 14 September 2005; Published: 1 March 2006
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KEYWORDS
behavioral response
Culex quinquefasciatus
EAG
human skin emanations
semiochemicals
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