An improved assay technique for matrone, a mosquito pheromone, and its application in ultrafiltration experiments.

An improved assay technique is presented for the detection of matrone, the mosquito pheromone which prevents insemination in female mosquitoes. This new technique requires 24 hours less to complete. The number of repeat tests necessary is reduced by 50% as compared to the number required utilizing the old technique and the reliability of the test is improved through the visual surveillance of the flight ability and mating activity of the females. Incorporated into this assay technique is the construction and use of a dose (dilution) response curve (calibration line) with a confidence band, establishing a threshold level of matrone activity and making it possible to assess the dilution of matrone in any non-toxic test material. Utilizing this new technique, we demonstrated by ultrafiltration that the molecular weight of matrone is between 50,000 and 100,000.