Laboratory studies on the development, survival and life tables of Culex fatigans and Anopheles stephensi

Observations on the duration of pre/post embryonic stages, survival and longevity of laboratory populations ofCulex fatigans andAnopheles stephensi were made in order to understand the factors controlling outbursts of these mosquito populations in original habitats. Regardless of the nature of culture medium and food,C. fatigans took a longer period (19 days) to complete the development of pre-embryonic stages thanA. stephensi (17 days). The highest survival rate ofC. fatigans was noticed in pupal stage (96%), while it was advanced to IV instar stage (95%) inA. stephensi. The survivorship curves ofC. fatigans andA. stephensi exhibited negatively skewed rectangles, indicating that the mortality is confined exclusively to aged individaals