The exon theory of genes proposes that the introns of protein-encoding nuclear genes are remnants of the DNA spacers between ancient minigenes. The discovery of an intron at a predicted position in the triose-phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1) gene of Culex mosquitoes has been hailed as an evidential pillar of the theory. We have found that that intron is also present in Aedes mosquitoes, which a...

Ovitraps are a widely used tool for mosquito vector surveillance and population monitoring. In the Auckland region, New Zealand, the oviposition preferences of mosquitoes were assessed in artificial breeding containers in relation to container aperture size and water nutrient levels. Only three mosquito species were recorded: the endemic Culex pervigilans and the exotic Culex quinquefasciatus a...

The factors determining the spatial and temporal distribution of West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) activity are not well understood. Here, we explore the effects of hydrological and meteorological conditions on WNV infection among Culex genus mosquitoes collected during 2001-2009 in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. We show that WNV infection rates in assayed pools of ...

The domestic fly (Musca domestica) can carry the virus of poliomyelitis in an active state for several days upon the surface of the body and for several hours within the gastro-intestinal tract. Mosquitos (Culex pipiens, Culex sollicitans, and Culex cantator), in our experiments, have not taken up and maintained in a living state the virus from the spinal cord of monkeys. Lice (Pediculus capiti...

background : the aim of this study was to design pictorial key and taxonomic literature of culex pipiens complex in iran. methods: larvae were collected using standard dipping methods in 13 randomly selected areas of bushehr, hame­dan, kerman, khorasan-e-razavi, khuzistan, mazandaran, tehran, sistan and baluchistan and yazd provinces from april 2009 to october 2010. the data were analyzed using...

b a ckground: the aim was to survey the specific factors, which cause to decrease blood feeding of mosquitoes important to succeed vector control. m e t hods: larval collection was carried out from fixed and variable breeding places of yazd county, central iran in 2009. autogeny-anautogeny, stenogamy-eurygamy, and blood preference of culex pipiens were studied using standard mosquito cages bloo...

The larvicidal activity of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate leaf extracts of Strychnos nuxvomica against the third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus was studied. The ethyl acetate leaf extract was found to be the effective larvicide with LC value of 222.28 and 146.99 ppm after 24 and 48 hours. The results indicate 50 promising larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. Furthe...

The vision of Culex quinquefasciatus was studied in the laboratory. The attractiveness of colors (black, white, brown, yellow, blue, a skin tone) was evaluated with respect to the collection of Cx. quinquefasciatus in natural light, in the dark, and in ultraviolet light. Culex quinquefasciatus prefers both black and brown in natural light and ultraviolet light, but, as expected, there is no pre...

A relation between a rice irrigation system and mosquito breeding was established in a study undertaken at the Ribeira Valley Experimental Station, from January through December 1992. Flooding favoured Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) and Culex (Melanoconion) species, while empty paddies condition were propitious to Aedes scapularis and Culex (Culex) species. Compared with a more primitive area of the...