Effect of Temperature on Biological Parameters of the West Nile Virus Vector Culex pipiens form ‘molestus’ (Diptera: Culicidae) in Greece: Constant vs Fluctuating Temperatures

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 641 - 650
• Main Authors: Spanoudis, Christos G., Andreadis, Stefanos S., Tsaknis, Nikolaos K., Petrou, Andreas P., Gkeka, Charikleia D., Savopoulou–Soultani, Matilda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Entomological Society of America 01.05.2019; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological effects; biology; Culex - growth & development; Culex - physiology; Culex pipiens; DEVELOPMENT, LIFE HISTORY; Developmental stages; Eggs; Fecundity; Female; Females; Fertility; Genetic vectors; Greece; Hatching; Health aspects; High temperature; Life History Traits; Longevity; Male; Males; mosquito; Mosquito Vectors - growth & development; Mosquito Vectors - physiology; Survival; Temperature; Temperature effects; Variation; Viruses; West Nile fever; West Nile virus; West Nile virus - physiology; Greece; temperature; Culex pipiens; biology; mosquito
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy224
• ISSN: 0022-2585

Studying the biology of Culex species is crucial to understanding their role in arbovirus transmission and for the development of efficient control strategies. Assessments of survival, development, adult longevity, fecundity and egg hatching of Culex pipiens form ‘molestus' (Forsskål), were conducted, under nine constant and fluctuating temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 ± 0.5°C. Higher survival rates were observed at constant temperature of 25°C as well as fluctuating with the same mean. Complete mortality occurred at 35°C in both constant and fluctuating temperature regimes. Development rate from egg to adult increased between 15 and 32.5°C, in a linear fashion. Adult longevity ranged from 1.4 d at 32.5°C to 73.5 d at 15°C. Females lived significantly longer compared to males at all temperature regimes with the exception of constant 32.5°C where adult longevity was similar between males and females. Fecundity was higher at moderate constant and fluctuating temperatures compared to high temperatures, where females laid a significantly smaller number of eggs. Likewise, egg hatching was significantly lower at the highest tested temperature regimes compared to low and moderate ones. The lowest developmental thresholds of the species in different developmental stages ranged between 11.17 and 11.95°C at constant temperatures and between 11.09 and 12.74°C at fluctuating ones. Differences between constant and fluctuating temperatures were observed concerning developmental time, fecundity, and male adult longevity at the two lowest tested temperatures, highlighting the importance of testing also fluctuating temperatures that simulate field conditions.