Pupal dimensions as predictors of adult size in fitness studies of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Journal of Medical Entomology
C J M Koenraadt

Abstract

Adult body size is a central life history character in mosquito fitness studies. I evaluated the predictive values of pupal cephalothorax length, cephalothorax width, and wet weight for adult size (wing length) of male and female Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). Cephalothorax length was the most consistent and accurate predictor of adult size. Width of the cephalothorax and wet weight were more variable, and they significantly decreased shortly before adult emergence. I propose that cephalothorax length could be used as a proxy for adult size to test how physical and biological factors such as resource-limited environments and competition affect mosquito fitness with the advantage that the specimen does not need to be killed.

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Citations

Dec 2, 2011·Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of the Society for Vector Ecology·R K WalshF Gould
May 14, 2014·Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of the Society for Vector Ecology·J J BaraS K Remold
Mar 17, 2011·Journal of Economic Entomology·Anna MediciRomeo Bellini
Feb 19, 2021·Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association·Robert L AldridgeKenneth J Linthicum

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