INHERITANCE OF YELLOW-LARVA AND RUBY-EYE IN CULEX PIPIENS

Abstract

It has been suggested that mosquito vectors of filariasis and other diseases might be controlled by genetic methods. This is not yet possible because of the lack of genetic information concerning the vector species. The present study describes the development of a marker strain which is being used to study genetic control. Two spontaneous mutants of Culex pipiens are described, one for the 1st time. Ruby-eye (ru) is an autosomal recessive in linkage group 2. It is completely penetrant and completely expressed. It is evident in later instar larvae, pupae, and adults. Yellow-larva (y) is an autosomal recessive, sometimes behaving as a partial dominant, and is also in linkage group 2. It is evident in late 4th-instar larvae and pupae and is generally associated with lengthened larval development. Ruby-eye and yellow-larva are occasionally seen in collections from the field. The frequency of crossing over between ru and y differs significantly among progenies and also between the sexes, the median values being 17% in males and 24% in females.