Changes in Fatty Acid Composition of Culex pipiens pipiens1 during Hibernation

Abstract

The role of lipids in the physiology of hibernating mosquitoes has long been recognized. Harwood and Takata (1965) demonstrated that temperature and photoperiod stimulate lipid deposition prior to hibernation. As early as 1935, Buxton pointed out that 85% of the fat reserves of hibernating Culex pipiens is exhausted during hibernation. More recently, Tekle (1960) demonstrated more than a 60% loss of reserves in 6 weeks of induced hibernation of the same insect. Lange (1963) found that more lipid reserves are used in C. pipiens at 25°C than at 16°C, although he was not investigating hibernating animals.