GONOTROPHIC CYCLE OF Aedes (Stegomyia) Aegypti (Linnaeus) (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Gonotrophic cycle of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Dengue vector) was studied under controlled conditions in the laboratory. The experiments were performed at constant temperatures (± 2̊C) of 30̊ C and 35̊ C and natural humidity on the females and males obtained from the first generation of laboratory culture. For this study, two - three days old virgin female was placed singly in the rearing cage with a male for mating purpose. Twenty-five such pairs of Aedes aegypti were used in the experiment, at each above-mentioned conditions. Blood meal was offered for the maturation of eggs, and multiple mating by a male was allowed. The Facility for the oviposition was provided for each female mosquito. The length and number of gonotrophic cycles (GCS), parous number and fecundity (eggs deposition) during the lifetime of each female mosquito were recorded daily. After death, each female was dissected out to observe eggs remained in the ovaries. The statistical data were analysed with the help of SPSS (20.0 version) Software to follow the length of GC and fecundity according to the temperature. Variations in the duration of gonotrophic cycles were observed. There was a significant difference in the mean duration of GCs, since P ≤ 0.05. The mean number of eggs produced by each female was also variable according to the temperature and a significant difference in the fecundity of triparous females, since the P ≤ 0.05. But there was not a significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in the fecundity of uniparous and biparous females of A. Aegypti. Maximum three GCS were completed by the female Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (triparous) and some were observed as nulliparous (no gonotrophic cycle completed by these females). The present investigations indicate that Gonotrophic cycle is temperature dependent. The variations in the temperature play a very important role and they may impact on the vitellogenesis up to a certain limit. This study will provide the additional tool to implement the control strategies for dengue vector at an appropriate time in the Agra region.