Biological Observations of Toxorhynchites Amboinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Laboratory1

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Abstract
Observations of the biology of a laboratory colony of Toxorhynchites (Toxorhynchites) amboinensis are reported and compared to published observations of the closely related species, Tx. (Tox.) splendens Mating and oviposition behavior were similar to that of Tx. splendens. Fecundity decreased from 14.3 eggs/female/day (week 2) to 4.8 eggs/female (week 11) as the colony aged. Adult longevity was estimated to range from 13–107 days with gradual mortality throughout the life of the colony. Egg viability ranged from 25–100%, x¯ = 49.5%, and after 7 weeks decreased steadily as the colony aged. Killing behavior was not observed; however, this may have been due to the low prey density provided. The mean development time from egg hatch to adult emergence was 34.8 days.
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