AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

The goal of the project is to develop a simple bioassay system to test the attraction of mosquitoes using volatiles. The end goal would be to identify components that could be incorporated into an attractive toxic bait system. Bioassays were performed with Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus Culex restuans, as well as Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus field collected eggs that were reared in the laboratory or from laboratory cultures, respectively. A cage bioassay system using sticky cards was employed with paired comparisons in a latin square design to identify attractive or repellant materials using newly emerged male and female mosquitoes. Replicates tested different concentrations of Bell Trapper LTD®, Tanglefoot®, Scentry Biologicals Inc.®, Stickem® glue, sugar water, honey, AllClear™, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and isoamyl acetate. The bioassay showed attraction to Bell Trapper LTD ® bell cards and repellency of citronella.