Scanning electron microscopic studies on egg surface morphology and morphometrics of Culex pipiens pipiens (Lin.) (northern house mosquito) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (southern house mosquito) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

During this study the surface morphology and morphometric of Culex pipiens pipiens (Lin.) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) eggs were described and compared using scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The results indicate that eggs of both species appear to be similar to great extent in surface morphology. However, morphometric provide 71.621% demarking attributes out of 44 attributes at various significant levels (P < 0.05-0.001), i.e., egg length, width and ratio of length/width, attributes of micropylar apparatus including corolla, disc, mound, tubercles size, and length of tubercular rows in micropylar region, size and density of tubercles, exochorionic pore in conical-shaped regions of eggs, and size of tubercular wheel units. Structurally, the additional presence of large tubercles strengthens the micropylar region to bear various collapsing forces in these species.