OVIPOSITION ACTIVITY OF MOSQUITOES IN MASSACHUSETTS

Channsotha Suom, M.S.

Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project

61 Endicott St., Building #34

Norwood, MA 02062

csuom.ncmcp@verizon.net

Frank H. Cornine III

Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project

111 Otis St.

Northborough, MA 01532

cornine@cmmp.org

ABSTRACT

For the past few years, the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project and the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project have collaborated in a study that indicates Culex pipiens/restuans host seeking activity peaks from 0-3 hrs after sunset. We sought to compare our host-seeking activity data with the oviposition activity of Cx. pipiens/restuans to determine if more than one spraying period per evening would be required to maximize efficiency of our ULV (ultra low volume) spraying applications in reducing the population of potential West Nile virus vectors. Two sites in Norfolk County, MA and three sites in Worcester County, MA were sampled using a custom gravid rotator device which collected mosquitoes in three-hour intervals: one period before sunset (-3 to 0 hr), and four thereafter (0-3 hr, 3-6 hr, 6-9 hr, 9-12 hr). Significantly more Cx. restuans/pipiens were actively ovipositing at 0-3 hrs after sunset, but the interval before and three afterward were statistically similar to one another. Although the data suggest that spraying from 0-3 hr after sunset would target the peak population of Cx. pipiens/restuans, the intervals before and after also have a consistently active population of potential WNv vectors that warrant control.