Abstract
The influence of larval diet, body weight at imago, size of blood-meal and age on the fecundity of Culex quinquefasciatus was investigated. The mean weights of mosquitoes at adult.emergence varied significantly with larval diet. Larvae reared on liver diet grew into heavier adults, and produced more eggs than those reared on milk. The volume of blood engorged by the female mosquitoes apparently remains constant during each gonotrophic cycle. However, the number of eggs produced is a function of both the blood-meal size and age of the mosquitoes. These results were discussed in relation to the need for full knowledge of the reproductive potential of this species of filaria vectors.
Résumé
L’influence due régime larvaire, du poids (du corps) à imago, de la quantité due sang sucé et de l’âge sur la fécondité de Culex quinquefasciatus a été étudiée. Le poids moyen des moustiques quand ils émergent à l’âge adulte varie considérablement selon le régime larvaire. Les larves élevées sur un régime de foie sont devenues des adultes pesant plus lourd et produisant un nombre plus élevé d’oeufs que celles élevées sur un régime de lait. Le volume de sang englouti par les femelles demeure apparemment inchangé tout le long de chaque cycle gonotrophique. Cependant, le nombre d’oeufs produit dépend non seulement de la quantité due sang sucé mais aussi de l’âge physiologique des moustiques. Ces résultats ont été examinés par rapport à la nécessité d’avoir une connaissance plus complète due potentiel réproductif de cette espèce de vecteurs filaires.
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Akoh, J.I., Aigbodion, F.I. & Kumbak, D. Studies on the Effect of Larval Diet, Adult Body Weight, Size of Blood-Meal and Age on the Fecundity of Culex Quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Int J Trop Insect Sci 13, 177–181 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400014326
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400014326