Trapping biases of Culex torrentium and Culex pipiens revealed by comparison of captures in CDC traps, ovitraps, and gravid traps

Abstract

We evaluate three trapping methods for their effectiveness at capturing Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, both enzootic vectors of bird-associated viruses in Europe. The comparisons, performed in two regions in Sweden, were among CDC traps baited with carbon dioxide, gravid traps, and ovitraps baited with hay infusion. The proportions of the two Culex species in a catch differed between trap types, with CDC traps catching a lower proportion of Cx. torrentium than both gravid traps and ovitraps. Between gravid traps and ovitraps, there was no difference in the proportions of the two species. The results indicate that Cx. torrentium may go undetected or underestimated compared to Cx. pipiens when using carbon dioxide baited CDC traps. The new insight of trap bias presented here adds an important dimension to consider when investigating these vectors of bird-associated viruses in the field.

Keywords

Mosquitoes; vectors; trapping methods; trapping bias; Sindbis virus; West Nile virus

Published in

Journal of Vector Ecology
2015, volume: 40, number: 1, pages: 158-163

SLU Authors

• Ignell, Rickard

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hill, Sharon

  • Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Östman, Örjan

  • Uppsala University

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12145

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/67154