Journal of the Australian Entomological Society (1992) 31, 249-253

I.D. Fanning, P. Mottram and B.H. Kay (1992)
Studies on vector competence and autogeny in Culex sitiens Wiedemann (Diptera: Culicidae)
Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 31 (3), 249-253
Abstract: In laboratory studies, Culex sitiens was found to be moderately susceptible to infection by Ross River (RR) virus with a TC ID₅₀ estimated at 10^7.3/mosquito. Evidence of infection was found 4 d after ingestion of virus and mosquitoes were still infective at 18 d. The virus was transmitted to day-old chickens from 4 d (10%) but maximum rates of transmission (33.3%) were reached 11-14 d after ingestion. Newly-hatched larvae were fed both high (12.6 mg) and low (4.2 mg) diets and fed on 5-25% sucrose as adults. Only 4 out of 485 females fed on the high diet and 0 of 247 on the low diet, developed mature ova suggesting that autogeny is probably uncommon in nature. These studies suggest that Cx. sitiens may only play a limited role in the natural transmission of RR virus.
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Database assignments for author(s): Brian H. Kay

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex sitiens