A material isolated from human hands that attracts female mosquitoes (original) (raw)
Abstract
The residue left on glass surfaces by human hands was found to be attractive to female_Aedes aegypti_ (L.) and_Anopheles quadrimaculatus_ Say mosquitoes. The material lost half of its activity in 1 hr. A solvent wash technique was developed to recover and concentrate the residuum from handled glass beads. The residuum could be recovered effectively with absolute ethanol and less effectively with several other solvents. More mosquitoes were attracted to heated than to unheated residuum, an indication of its volatility. Also, attraction of the residuum decreased with decreasing concentration or dose. Concentrated residuum collections, stored under refrigeration and tested for longevity, showed no appreciable loss of attractiveness up to 60 days of storage.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, 32604, Gainesville, Florida
C. E. Schreck, N. Smith, D. A. Carlson, D. Haile & D. R. Godwin - Department of Entomology and Nematology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida
G. D. Price
Authors
- C. E. Schreck
- N. Smith
- D. A. Carlson
- G. D. Price
- D. Haile
- D. R. Godwin
Additional information
Diptera: Culicidae.
This research was supported partly by the Medical Research and Development Command, Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the USDA.
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Schreck, C.E., Smith, N., Carlson, D.A. et al. A material isolated from human hands that attracts female mosquitoes.J Chem Ecol 8, 429–438 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987791
- Received: 26 May 1981
- Revised: 06 July 1981
- Issue date: February 1982
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987791