The effects of microcosm water volume and larval density on Aedes aegypti development time and adult mass

Due to the strong relationship between larval development and adult success, controlling mosquito populations and the diseases they transmit depends greatly on a thorough knowledge of the environmental parameters that influence larval development. In this study, larval Aedes aegypti were reared in microcosms with varying volumes of water (500 mL, 750 mL, and 1000 mL). Larvae were added at densities of 20 or 100 / microcosm to each of the different volumes and the resulting life history parameters of development time and adult mass at eclosion were measured for each individual. Variation in volume significantly affected female mass (P=0.0002) but not male mass or development time for either males or females. Density had a significant affect on both male (P=0.0118) and female mass (P < 0.0001), but not development time. Male mass was also significantly affected by the interaction between volume and density (P=0.0058).