Larval diet and the vector competence of Culex annulirostris (Diptera: Culicidae) for Murray Valley encephalitis virus.

Culex annulirostris Skuse larvae were reared on two different amounts of powdered dog chow and yeast, low intake (2.8 micrograms/larva) and high intake (8.4 micrograms/larva), to produce adults with mean wing lengths of 3.25 and 3.7 mm, respectively. The resulting adults were fed different dosages of Murray Valley encephalitis virus and after 10 d extrinsic incubation at 28 degrees C, the infection rate, transmission rate, salivary gland, and body titers were determined. There were no significant differences in any of these parameters.