Synergism between nonane and emanations from soil as cues in oviposition?site selection of natural populations of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus

Abstract Background Olfactory cues have been shown to an important role in guiding gravid mosquito females selected sites for egg laying. The objective of this study was determine the influence emanations from soil a breeding site and putative oviposition pheromone nonane on oviposition-site selection natural populations Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) Culex quinquefasciatus . Methods This field-based conducted Mvomero District East-central Tanzania. In dual-choice experimental set up, clay bowls were dug into ground filled with one following treatments: (i) distilled water + autoclaved (control), (ii) site, (iii) (iv) site. Soil dried or only before use. After five days incubation, larvae collected daily 10 days. median number per bowl day used as outcome measure. Results Autoclaved had significant attractive effect behaviour Cx. (median values ± s.e: 8.0 1.1; P < 0.005) but no An. value 0.0 0.2; = 0.18). Nonane untreated significantly positively influenced by both s.l. s.e.: 12.0 2.0 4.5 1.5, respectively; 0.0001) 19.0 1.3 17.0 2.0, 0.0001). A mixture caused synergistic 23.5 2.5; compared either 2.0; alone 1.5; mixed also found 41.0 2.1; s.e. 1.3; 0.0001 ) activity index 0.56 ( 0.001) 0.59 Conclusions larval breeding-site induced wild , when stimuli present simultaneously. is first which cause under conditions, suggesting that compound can potentially be exploited management vectors.