Bionomics of Culex epidesmus associated with Japanese encephalitis virus in India.

Various biological characteristics, including seasonal abundance, diurnal resting habits, feeding behavior, larval habitats, and oviposition, of Culex epidesmus were studied in Gorakhpur District, Uttar Pradesh, India, from 1990 to 1999. Prevalence of adults was recorded between June and October, with a peak in August. The bushy undergrowth of mango and teakwood plantations served as diurnal resting habitat. Blood-meal analysis of wild-caught females showed that the most of them had fed on bovines. Temporary pools of rainwater and paddy fields containing freshwater and filamentous green algae were found to be suitable larval habitats. Gravid females laid eggs and immature stages grew well in the presence of green algae. Freshly laid egg rafts were found to be boat shaped and individual eggs were a white-cream color. The number of eggs per raft deposited by individual Cx. epidesmus varied from 118 to 288, with an average of 199 eggs per specimen.