The feeding habits of some West African Culex (Dipt., Culicidae) mosquitoes

Abstract

The host range and feeding habits of seven species of Culex mosquitoes at Keneba, the Gambia, are described from precipitin tests of blood-meals and from observations on their attraction to calf, man, duck and pigeon baits. Feeding habits were classed nonspecific, mammalian or ornithophilic. Culex thalassius Theo. was non-specific, bloodmeals being identified from mammals (59·5%), birds (38·1%) and reptiles (2·4%). Large numbers were attracted to calf, man, ducks and pigeons. C. tritaeniorhynchus Giles fed almost exclusively on cattle: 17 of 19 blood-meals were identified as from cow. Many specimens were taken at calf, smaller numbers at man, and the few attracted to ducks fed readily. Birds were the main source of blood for C. decens Theo. (54·8%), C. invidiosus Theo. (87·5%), C. nebulosus Theo./cinereus Theo. (93·3%), C. tigripes Grp. & Charm. (98·3%), C. univittatus Theo. (two out of three) and C. weschei Edw. (one out of one). Reptile feeds were recorded for C. decens (14·3%), C. invidiosus (5·0%), C. nebulosus/cinereus (6·7%) and C. univittatus (one out of three). C. invidiosus and C. univittatus were common only at pigeon bait where some 13% fed on the birds.