The paucity of information concerning mosquito flight ability resulted in experiments designed to estimate some aspects of mosquito flight potential under laboratory conditions. Each day for 6 weeks, eight female Aedes aegypti were flown on flight mills, and the distance flown, duration of flights, flight speed, and weight lost during exhaustive flights were recorded. Comparisons of the performances of mosquitoes of different ages indicated that no statistical differences existed in flight ability as measured between consecutive days. Differences did occur between weekly age groups. Flight performance was maximal during the first 14 days of adult life. Flight performance (distance flown) decreased by 42% at the beginning of the 3rd week (day 15) and again, sharply, in the 4th week. Exhausted mosquitoes were analyzed for glycogen content (the primary source of fight energy), and comparisons were made with glycogen levels of nonflown controls of identical physiological age. Mosquitoes aged 1 through 12 days utilized almost all available glycogen in exhaustive flights. During the 3rd and 4th weeks, glycogen in exhausted mosquitoes increased concomitantly with a reduction in flight ability. (Author)


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    Title :

    Laboratory Studies of Mosquito Flight: Ii. Effects of Age on Flight Performance of Female AEDES Aegypti


    Contributors:
    W. A. Rowley (author) / C. L. Graham (author)

    Publication date :

    1967


    Size :

    16 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English