SIMULATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL OF AEDES VEXANS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) LARVAE AND PUPAE

A process-based, rate-summation model was developed to predict changes in daily age distribution and mortality of larvae and pupae of Aedes vexans (Meigen), a mosquito common in floodwater habitats. Predicted a ge distributions based on observed water temperatures were shown to ma tch field populations closely Predicted rates of survival to adult eme rgence were not significantly different from those observed in the fie ld in most cases; however, field estimates had high variances. Model a nalysis showed that a 2 degrees C change in average water temperature produced small changes (approximate to 1 d) in predicted development t ime to adult emergence at temperatures >20 degrees C, but larger chang es (up to 10 d) at lower water temperatures. Predicted survival also d ecreased markedly at lower temperatures.