Attraction of Aedes albopictus adults in sod infusion

Aedes albopictus adults were recovered from sod-baited gravid traps at 7 sites in 5 counties of southern and southwestern Illinois in areas ranging from suburban to rural. The attraction of this species to a lure usually associated with members of the Culex pipiens complex was investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Olfactometer and oviposition preference tests in the laboratory showed that Ae. albopictus is attracted to sod infusion and females readily oviposit on substrates in contact with the infusion. Both males and females responded to the sod infusion in the olfactometer. The attraction of multiple mosquito species to sod-baited gravid traps was demonstrated at a waste tire site in Jasper County, Illinois. Females of Ae. albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, and Culex species were collected from gravid traps placed along the edge of woods at distances ranging from 100 to 200 m from the tire site. Only a small percentage of the Ae. albopictus females appeared to be gravid (less than 5%), unlike the majority of Culex and Ae. tristeriatus females.