Does the depth of breeding habitat matter for the mosquito larval development? Validating using Culex quinquefasciatus as a model species

The water depth in the larval habitat determines the developmental pace and life history traits in mosquitoes. An experiment was conducted with three levels of initial rearing densities of Culex quinquefasciatus instar I larva (1, 5 and 10 larvae) under 5 different water column heights (2.5, 3.5, 7, 17.5, and 36 cm) to assess the effects on the age at pupation (AP), pupal weight (PW), adult weight (AW) and wing length (WL). The life history traits did not vary with the water depth excepting for AP which was delayed with increased water height (r= -0.765, in terms of growth rate). However, the density dependent effects on the life history traits were observed. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed when the index of fitness for PW, AW, and WL were derived using the AP as denominator. An exponential model defining the developmental rate was used to validate the variations in the life history traits as a function of the water depth. Apparently, with no food limitation, the larval development was found to be delayed with the water height without compromising the attainment of the requisite values of the PW, AW and WL.