Life history and seasonal abundance of Taxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Culicidae: Toxorhynchitinae) in Mt. Makiling. Los Baños, Laguna [Philippines]
2016
Millado, J.B.H | Sumalde, A.C. | Adorada, J.R. | Caolli, B.L.
Toxorynchites spp. (Diptera: Culcidae: 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 [Philippines] 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 four 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 development period (TDP) from egg to adult ranges from 23 to for males and 2-71 days (x=16.5) for females. On the average, respective total developmental periods (in days) per prey density for male (M) and female (F) are: 5 preys/day (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 line 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 essential abundance of T. splendens in the wild was also observed for one year (August 2013 to July 2014). Third and fourth instar larvae water were most abundant in September while the eggs peaked in April.
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