Morphometric diagnosis of the effects of water hardness on development of immature life stages and adult vectorial fitness of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito

In the present study, we elucidated the effects of different water hardness regimens on life stages of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito using the techniques of morphometry. Five water hardness regimens (0, 30, 90, 150 and 210mg/L CaCO3) were prepared following standard protocols, and freshly hatched larvae reared in them until adulthood. Measurements were made for the lengths and widths of larval head capsule, thorax, abdomen, siphon, antennae, and anal papillae. Other parts measured include pupal trumpet, cephalothorax, and total immature body lengths, adult abdominal and wing parameters, volumes of fourth instar larvae and adult mosquitoes. Analyses revealed significant effects of water hardness on all body parts measured. The present study shows that water hardness levels significantly affect the morphometrics of Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquito, and could affect immature growth and development, and adult fitness attributes. It also reveals that moderately hard water are the best for overall fitness and performance of the species. The information generated from this study is important in understanding the interplay between water hardness and mosquito development.