Influence of microclimate, food, and predation on anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae) growth and development rates, survivorship, and adult size in a Michigan pond

Abstract

Recently, the need for ecological management of mosquitoes has sparked a new interest in their larval ecology as an important component in malaria control programs. Three factors affecting larval growth and development rates, survivorship and adult size were tested with a natural population of Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Say) in a Michigan pond. Second-instar An. quadrimaculatus (n = 40) were collected from a field population and maintained in floating microcosms. Before larval introductions, microcosms were placed in 2 pond habitats (open water zones and vegetated areas). Experimental treatments in this study included algal clump, algal clump/predator, and predator only. Control treatment microcosms contained An. quadrimacadatus larvae only. The minimum temperature at the water surface was significantly greater in the open water habitat. Laboratory experiments show that food quality and temperature had a significant effect on larval survivorship. Developmental rates, survivorship, and adult size were higher in the algal clump treatment. The results of this study indicate that factors like surface water microclimates and enhanced food resources can be used to predict An. quadrimaculatus larval distribution and success.