Observations on the bionomics of Stegomyia fasciata

Extract

So far as could be determined from laboratory experiments the sequence of events relating to blood feeding and the laying of eggs in the life of Stegomyia fasciata was found to be as follows:—

On the second or third day after emergence from the pupa the mosquito takes her initial feed of blood. If she has previously been fertilised she lays her first batch of eggs on the sixth or seventh day, and is ready to feed again on blood a few hours later. Thereafter she lays eggs regularly every third or fourth day, and feeds on blood once only after each batch is laid in preparation for the next batch. The female continues to lay batches of eggs throughout her life, and in this way at least fifteen may be deposited. In order that eggs may be laid at all, both fertilisation and a meal of blood are required, and it is necessary that the fertilisation should precede the blood feed. Once fertilised, the female may continue to lay batches of fertile eggs for at any rate 37 days without being reimpregnated. If the eggs are laid in the early morning, she feeds during the day-time; if in the afternoon or evening, she feeds at night; but sometimes she refuses an offer to feed in daylight in favour of the next opportunity to feed in the dark.