Biology and control of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Diptera, Culicidae) with special reference to Africa

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to synthesize information available on C. p. quinquefasciatus in Africa. The latter is presently found in most urban areas of the African continent and in rural settlements which show some trends towards urbanization. In East Africa, and the islands of the Indian Ocean, C. p. quinquefasciatus is one of the major natural vectors of Wuchereria bancrofti. In addition it can also transmit, under laboratory conditions, some other pathogenic agents.Preimaginal forms develop in different kinds of man-made breeding-places, especially those containing polluted water. The situation in each African region is reviewed in detail.Female behaviour during the different phases of the gonotrophic cycle is analysed, together with population dynamics.Control methods by synthetic insecticides are discussed in relation to resistance problems and the characteristics of the breeding sites. Other control methods based on the use of growth regulators, genetic manipulation, biological agents (parasites and predators) and environmental management have been investigated as well. Most of them cannot be easily applied or are not yet applicable for control operations.

Comparison of the Physiological age of Adult Resting Versus Flying Culex Quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…For example Mahanta et al (1999) found peaks around 19.00 and 23.00h; Yee and Foster (1992) found peaks at 23.00h and before dawn, while Sucharit et al (1981) found three peaks. The fact that gravid females, which are likely to be looking for oviposition sites, had dawn and sunset peaks corresponds to the results of oviposition behaviour observations by Hayes and Downs (1980) and Subra (1981). However, other studies have shown considerable differences from this pattern.…”

“…Some studies have found that biting activity of Cx quinquefasciatus was greatest in the early part of the night (Gowda and Viayan, 1993;Khan et al, 1997;Pipitgool et al, 1998), while others found activity greatest after midnight (Brunhes, 1975;Subra, 1981;Vanamail and Ramaiah, 1991;Ramasamy et al, 1994;Chandra, 2001). In still other studies, however, two peaks of activity were recorded.…”

“…he female mosquito has up to 8 gonotrophic cycles, each averaging 4 -4.5 days (Birley and Rajagopalan, 1981;Chandra et al, 1996), although Subra (1981) found this varied on different cycles. During each of these cycles, the female needs to find a blood meal, digest the blood meal and develop its eggs, and then find somewhere to oviposit the eggs.…”

The Abundance and Biting Patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Culicidae) in the Coastal Region of Nigeria

“…The service [26] observed that peaks of biting by C. pipiens quinquefasciatus took place from March to May (late dry to early wet season) and in September (late wet season) in northern Nigeria. Peaks in female mosquito densities were in the rainy season and at the beginning of dry season in urban areas in Upper Volta [27], in rural areas [28], and in the beginning of the rainy season in Kaduna, northern Nigeria [26]. The mean densities in West Africa in the rainy season are often ten times as high as dry season densities [27].…”

“…Peaks in female mosquito densities were in the rainy season and at the beginning of dry season in urban areas in Upper Volta [27], in rural areas [28], and in the beginning of the rainy season in Kaduna, northern Nigeria [26]. The mean densities in West Africa in the rainy season are often ten times as high as dry season densities [27].…”