GONOTROPHIC CYCLE AND SURVIVORSHIP OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) USING STICKY OVITRAPS IN MONTERREY, NORTHEASTERN MEXICO

Mark–release–recapture experiments were conducted to determine the length of the gonotrophic cycle and rate of survivorship of Culex quinquefasciatus Say in Monterrey, northeastern Mexico. A total of 2,352 field-caught Cx. quinquefasciatus females were marked and released at 8–12 h postemergence in 2 field trials. Sticky ovitraps were used to recapture marked gravid females. One hundred and ten (4.6%) marked females were recaptured during a 12-day sampling period. Recapture rates for the 2 individual trials were 6.4% and 3.5%. The length of the gonotrophic cycle, calculated as the average time between the initial blood meal and the time of recapture of gravid females, was 2–3 days. The first blood-fed mosquitoes were recaptured on the 2nd day postrelease. Gravid egg-laying females were most commonly recaptured at 2–3 days postfeeding. Daily survival estimates for the 2 release dates were of 0.871 and 0.883, respectively.