Nutritional reserves in autogenous and anautogenous populations of Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids were compared in larval, pupal, and adult stages of autogenous and anautogenous populations of Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius. All developmental stages of autogenous mosquitoes accumulated significantly more proteins and carbohydrates than did anautogenous sibligns. For lipids, the same pattern was observed with the exception that adult females of both autogenous and anautogenous Ae. caspius had comparable quantities (170-176 micrograms/mg). In general, mosquito larvae contained the highest quantities of the nutrients which then started to decrease in pupae and adults. In addition, autogenous Ae. caspius accumulated more carbohydrates and lipids but less proteins than did Cx. pipiens. The results suggest that autogeny is associated with an inherent ability of autogenous mosquitoes to store more nutritional reserves than anautogenous counterparts. Those reserves are the precursors for oogenesis to produce the first egg clutch in autogenous femles.