Oviposition responses of gravid female Culex quinquefasciatus to egg rafts and low doses of oviposition pheromone under semifield conditions

Semifield experiments were conducted to study the oviposition of gravid Culex quinquefasciatus females in response to one or 10 egg rafts, or 3.0 mu g of synthetic oviposition pheromone, (-)-(5R,6S)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide, a dose equivalent to 10 egg rafts. These treatments were added to the small bowls filled with either hay infusion or water in a small (0.3-m spacing) or a large-square design (3.4-m spacing). Oviposition choice was more pronounced in the "small square" assays. Mean number of egg rafts laid in response to a single egg raft in an oviposition jar filled with hay infusion was significantly greater than with all other treatments. When the oviposition pheromone dose was increased from one to 10 rafts or when 3.0 mu g synthetic oviposition pheromone were dispensed on a floating receptacle, synergistic effects were observed between the oviposition pheromone and the hay infusion at both distances. This study is the first demonstration that the amount in a single raft induces oviposition of gravid Cx. quinquefasciatus females under semi-natural conditions.