THE USE OF OVIPOSITION ACTIVITY TO MONITOR POPULATIONS OF <i>CULEX PIPIENS</i> AND <i>CULEX RESTUANS</i> (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Abstract

Abstract Culex pipiens (L.) and Culex restuans Theo. populations were monitored at Guelph, Ontario, throughout the summer of 1978, by egg raft collections from artificial pools and adult collections using CO 2 -baited, CDC light traps. Three to four major generations of C . pipiens were evident with first oviposition on 17 May and last on 15 October. C . restuans was abundant during the spring and early summer while C . pipiens was most abundant in mid-July and August. Neither species showed greater attraction to pools containing a reported ovipositional attractant, decanoic acid. The use of oviposition pools was found to be an efficient, inexpensive, and sensitive technique for monitoring populations of Culex spp.