colonization and biology of Egyptian culex univittatus [theobald]

ABSTRACT

Culex univittatus has been associated with several diseases in Egypt; however, its colonization procedures have not been described nor has its life cycle been studied in the laboratory. We found that all stages of this mosquito could be transported successfully over long distances in twilly bags stored in cooled water in a thermos. Immature stages survived well in distilled water and adult females fed on immobilized pigeon as well as giunea pigs and people. Fecundity was variable. Two third of eggs hatched when derived from the first gonotrophic cycle but this decreased in later gonotrophic cycles. Adult females were long lived and passed through several gonotrophic cycles. Blood feeding began one day after oviposition. Colonization will enable further study of this potential disease vector