Vol. 8, Issue 2, Part A (2021)

Author(s): Ekezie Chisom C, Okoye Chibueze M, Dike Mercy N and Okafor Nnazimuzo M

Abstract: Culex mosquitoes usually lay their eggs in form of a raft with up to 100 to 400 eggs. This eggs hatch at the same time to release first instar larva which molts four times, pupate and finally become adults. In the present study, it was observed that emergence of adults follow a well-defined pattern which depends on the sex of the emerging mosquito. The pattern followed by emerging males could be described as a logarithmic function of the emergence time at 24 hours interval. Female emergence could best be described as a power function of emergence time when compared to the exponential function model, both at 24 hours interval. A difference in the rate of growth and development which may exist between the male and female immature stages of the species was proposed as a cause of the pattern. Insights from the data shows that the pattern reduces the frequency of successful mating that may occur between offspring of same parent hatched at same time. In a complex breeding environment, there is a higher chance that successful mating will occur between offspring of different parents hatched at different time, thus it could be said that the pattern promotes genetic diversity within the species.

DOI: 10.22271/23487941.2021.v8.i2a.517