Survival of Eggs of Eretmapodites Chrysogaster Graham (Diptera: Culicidae)1

Abstract

Studies on egg survival in the African mosquito Eretmapodites chrysogaster showed that about half of the from 10- and 17-day-old colonies survived 5 days of desiccation after maturation, but only about 25% of the eggs from a 24- day colony survived drying for this period. However, a larger proportion of the eggs from the older females was capable of surviving 20 days of dry storage. This was more marked in eggs of the third oviposition than in those of the first oviposition from old females. The younger females produced more viable eggs. As the age of the eggs increased, the duration of the hatching period decreased. The relatively limited ability of the eggs to survive in dry containers may nevertheless represent an important dry season survival mechanism when occasional showers permit intermittent breeding.