effect of chronic irradiation on the biology of culex pipiens molestus forsk [Diptera, culicidae] through successive generations

ABSTRACT

One-day-old pupae Culex pipiens molestus Forsk from F[1], F[3], F[5], F[8],F[11] and F[14] were exposed to 4 doses of gamma irradiation namely 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000r. A reduction in the percentage of adult emergence through successive generations was noticed with no significant effect on the sex ratio. At higher and lower doses, the survival rates of both sexes resulting from radiation selected population were significantly longer than the control. Fecundity and fertility were also affected by the chronic exposure, reduction in egg production and egg hatchability were observed, the higher the dose the lower the percentage of hatchability. No resistance was developed to chronic exposure by the radiation selected population of the Egyptian mosquito C. P. molestus