DRINKING AS A PREOVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR OF WILD CULEX-PIPIENS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

In the field, C. pipiens females land on open water where they stand on their pro- and mesothoracic legs. Females do not hold onto anything prior to, or during, oviposition, nor do they cross their hind legs for oviposition as reported previously. Lowering of the metathoracic legs and paralleling them on the surface behind the abdomen for oviposition occurs only after a female drinks from the ovisite. Drinking from the water upon which they will oviposit is a regular behavior (97.3%). Most individuals (91.9%) drink more than once, drink for more than ten seconds total (81.1%), and spend an average of five seconds or more per drink (67.7%). Total time spent drinking averages 65.7 seconds. Because drinking occurs before oviposition is begun, contact chemoreceptors on the mouthparts could be involved in the final stages of ovisite acceptance. Time spent in drinking exceeds that necessary for mere tasting, and drinking may also serve to distend the abdomen and assist in movement of eggs through the oviduct.