A THERMAL HEAT SUMMATION MODEL TO PREDICT THE DURATION OF THE GONOTROPHIC CYCLE OF CULISETA-MELANURA IN NATURE

This study determined the effect of temperature on the gonotrophic cyc le of Culiseta melanura and developed a thermal heat summation model t o calculate its duration under field conditions. A colony of Cs. melan ura was used from New Jersey (F-13-F-17 generation) and the length of the gonotrophic cycle was observed at 2, 10, 16, 22, 28, 32, and 34 de grees C. None of the mosquitoes survived at 2 degrees C or 34 degrees C and none laid fertile eggs at 32 degrees C. A linear regression anal ysis on the data showed that the thermal minimum for ovarian developme nt was 6.4 degrees C and 95.87 degree days were required above 6.4 deg rees C to complete one gonotrophic cycle. A thermal heat summation mod el is presented to allow calculation of the duration of the gonotrophi c cycle under field conditions when average temperatures are known.