Odour‐mediated upwind flight of <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> mosquitoes elicited by a synthetic attractant

Abstract

Abstract A wind tunnel and video equipment are used to study the long‐range and close‐range responses of gravid females of Culex quinquefasciatus Say to a synthetic pheromone, eryrthro ‐6‐acetoxy‐5‐hexadecanolide. In response to water and acetoxyhexadecanolide, together or independently, in the presence of wind, females follow meandering flight paths upwind. Females have a higher rate of turning and a lower flight‐speed when landing at a site containing pheromone than at a comparable site without pheromone. Females stay longer at oviposition sites containing the attractant than at sites with no attractant.