The population genetics and phylogenetic relationships of Culex mosquitoes inhabiting the Sonoran Desert region of North America were studied using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite molecular markers. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from mosquitoes collected over a wide geographic area, including the Baja California peninsula, and mainland localiti...

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...

The role of lactic acid was evaluated for attraction of Culex nigripalpus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tarsalis, and Aedes aegypti in the laboratory using a dual-port olfactometer. When lactic acid was combined with chicken odor, attraction was increased for Cx. quinquefasciatus compared to chicken odor alone but not for Cx. nigripalpus, Cx. tarsalis, and Ae. aegypti. Lactic acid combined wit...

Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say and Culex pipiens pipiens Linnaeus are sibling species incriminated as important vectors of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases worldwide. The two forms differ little morphologically and are differentiated mainly based upon ecological, behavioural, physiological and genetic traits. Within the North American zone of sympatry, populations of Cx. p. quin...

Resistance to insecticides has persuaded researchers to find new methods to control Culex quinquefasciatus proliferation. Plants may be a source of alternative agents for mosquito control due to ever-growing insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors and environmental imbalance caused by synthetic insecticides. The present study was intended to study the larvicidal activity of selected Cyathea ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate density, parity rates, daily survival and longevity of natural populations of Culex quinquefasciatus in three neighborhoods with distinct socio-economic and infrastructure profiles. METHODS Mosquito collections of the Culex quinquefasciatus species were performed weekly during two four month periods, from August to November 2008 (spring) and March to June 2009 (fall), in...

Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae), especially Cx. pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus, have successfully exploited the rapid growth of the human population and globalization to their advantage by successfully utilizing man-made habitats, particularly for oviposition. Culex spp. lay over 100 eggs together in a raft. Each egg in the raft produces an apical droplet contai...

Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes have been successfully genetically modified only once, despite the efforts of several laboratories to transform and establish a stable strain. We have developed a transient gene expression method, in Culex, that delivers plasmid DNA directly to the mosquito haemolymph and additional tissues. We were able to express DsRed2 fluorescent protein in adult Cx. quinqu...

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...

Variation among natural populations of Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus Say is associated with different vectorial capacities. The species Cx. quinquefasciatus is present in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical zones in the Brazilian territory, with intermediate forms between Cx. quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens occurring in regions of latitudes around 33°-35° S. Herein, we studied geograph...