ELECTROANTENNOGRAM STUDIES OF POTENTIAL OVIPOSITION ATTRACTANTS FOR TOXORHYNCHITES MOCTEZUMA AND T-AMBOINENSIS MOSQUITOS

Ether extracts of water samples taken from tyre sections in the field were shown to be active in electroantennogram studies with female Toxo rhynchites moctezuma (Dyar & Knab) and Toxorhynchites amboinensis (Dol eschall). In addition, electroantennograms were recorded from both Tox orhynchites species for seven compounds found commonly in water contai ning decaying leaves and known to be oviposition attractants for other mosquito species. The compounds were 4-methylcyclohexanol, phenol, in dole, 3-methylindole, m-cresol, o-cresol and p-cresol. The response th resholds for these compounds ranged between 1 x 10(-4) mu g and 1 mu g for female antennae (100 mu g for male antennae). These results provi de a basis for behavioural studies of oviposition attractants for the Toxorhynchites species.