Repellency of inseminated Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) females to various wing-beat sound frequencies in modulated intensities in a flight chamber

Author: LEE, Dong-Kyu

Source: Entomological Research, Volume 36, Number 3, September 2006 , pp. 162-166(5)

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Abstract:

Wing-beat sound frequencies at 370, 440, 493 and 554 Hz were evaluated for female mosquito repellency. One hundred inseminated females of Culex pipiens were introduced into a 30 cm × 30 cm × 3 m screened cage with an electronic device (cellular phone) emitting selected frequencies positioned at one end of the chamber. The mosquitoes were counted in areas of 0.0-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0 and 2.0-3.0 m from the cellular phone. In a second test, 50 Cx. pipiens were released in the screened cage with a shaved rat as bait placed beside the cellular phone (370 Hz) at the center of the chamber. Statistical analysis (anova) showed that significantly fewer (P < 0.05) mosquitoes rested near the cellular phone at 370 Hz, but not at the other frequencies. Similarly, there was significant reduction (mean 33.0%) in the number of mosquitoes taking a blood meal on the shaved rat when the cellular phone was turned on (P < 0.01).

Keywords: Culex pipiens; mosquito; repellency; sound device; sound frequency; wing-beat sound

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5967.2006.00027.x

Publication date: 2006-09-01