Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Wing length has been shown to correlate to fecundity in mosquitoes. By measuring wing length and counting eggs, one can create a linear equation that can be used to calculate fecundity using wing length. A 2008 equation by Armistead that looked at wing length fecundity relationship in Ae. atropalpus only had samples over 2.4 mm. Because of this, any wing length under 2.4 that is put in the equation will have a fecundity less than zero. This study was created to replicate the Armistead study with smaller mosquitoes to create an equation that calculates the fecundity of smaller mosquitoes. To do this, the mosquito larvae were placed at three food treatments and reared to adulthood. The female mosquitoes’ wings were measured and then dissected to count the eggs. There were not any mosquitoes smaller that 2.4mm reared in this study, however, evidence that indicates the environment has a large impact on fecundity was found.
Biting the Hand That Feeds: Food Density, Wing-length and Fecundity in Aedes atropalpus
Wing length has been shown to correlate to fecundity in mosquitoes. By measuring wing length and counting eggs, one can create a linear equation that can be used to calculate fecundity using wing length. A 2008 equation by Armistead that looked at wing length fecundity relationship in Ae. atropalpus only had samples over 2.4 mm. Because of this, any wing length under 2.4 that is put in the equation will have a fecundity less than zero. This study was created to replicate the Armistead study with smaller mosquitoes to create an equation that calculates the fecundity of smaller mosquitoes. To do this, the mosquito larvae were placed at three food treatments and reared to adulthood. The female mosquitoes’ wings were measured and then dissected to count the eggs. There were not any mosquitoes smaller that 2.4mm reared in this study, however, evidence that indicates the environment has a large impact on fecundity was found.
Comments
Corey Day: Western Carolina University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Dr. Brian Byrd: Western Carolina University