Chemotaxis of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in response to amino acids

A mixture of amino acids, viz., casein hydrolyzate, has been shown to induce positive chemotaxis in larvae of C. p. quinquefasciatus . Individual amino acids had varying abilities to attract the larvae. Studies using phenylalaine suggested that attraction involves stereoisomerism; the L-form was strongly attractive, whereas the d-isomer was ineffective, if not repellent.