Response of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Visual Stimuli

Abstract

Responses of several species of mosquitoes to visual stimuli of various colors and shapes were studied in the Tintamirre National Wildlife Area, New Brunswick, Canada, during the summers of 1977 and 1978. Mosquitoes were collected in cuboid, funnel target traps of 5 colors and results indicated a differential preference: aedines and Mansonia perturbans preferred black, red and blue over white and yellow. Mansonia perturbans showed substantial color differentiation during both day and night. The percentage luminous reflectance of light from each color-stimulus target was inversely proportional to the number of mosquitoes trapped in the target. Mansonia perturbans landed in greater numbers on filters transmitting wavelengths of 400–600 nm, while low numbers landed on filters transmitting wavelengths longer than 600 nm. Two species of Aedes and Mansonia perturbans responded in greater numbers to cuboid rather than pyramidal targets, while Ae. punctor was taken in larger numbers from pyramids. While no species was taken exclusively at any of the 4 heights studied, most mosquitoes were collected in targets exposed at 122–183 cm above the ground. All culicines in the study differentially selected the end or projecting parts of the 3-dimensional rectangular targets.