Life history and seasonal abundance of Toxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Cullidae: Toxorhynchitinae) in Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna

Issue Date

10-2016

Abstract

Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera: Culicidae: Toxorhynchitinae), commonly known as elephant mosquitoes, are larval predators of immatures of other mosquito species including Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus. The life history of one species, T. splendens, collected from Mt. Makiling, was studied under laboratory conditions using different prey densities. Eggs hatched in 1-2 days (x=1.9) after oviposition. There are four larval instars which last for 1.6 (x=2.4), 1-15 (x=3.1), 2-16 (x=6.6) and 8-65 (x=17.8) days for the first to fourth instar, respectively. Total developmental period (TDP) from eggs to adult ranges from 23 to 86 days for males (x=33.9) and from 25 to 90 for females (x=37.4). Adult longevity is 2.55 days (x=10.4) for males and 2-71 days (x=16.5) for females. On the average, respective total developmental periods (in days) per pray density for male (M) and female (F) are: 5 preys/days (M=56.8, F=61.3), 10/day (M=32.7, F=34.8), 20/day (M=29.1, F=33.4), 40/day (M=26.8, F=28.4), and 60/day (M=24.4, F=28.9). Decreasing TDPs were observed with increasing number of daily preys. In contrast, higher juvenile mortality and shorter adult longevity were observed at higher prey densities. Adults of larvae fed with 10 preys daily, on the average, lived 8.8 days longer than those at other prey densities. Males generally completed development 3.4 days earlier than females, although the former lives 6.1 days shorter. Females laid an average of 19.8 eggs with 96.6% viability over a span of 14.8 days, about 15.3 days after mating. The seasonal abundance of T. splendens in the wild was also observed for one year (August 2013 to July 2014). Third and fourth instar larvae were most abundant in September while the eggs peaked in April.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

30

Issue

2

Page

171-172

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

TOXORHYNCHITES SPLENDENS; DIPTERA; CULIDAE; LIFE CYCLE; ABUNDANCE; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS

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