Competition in Mosqviitoes. 2. Production of Aedes aegypti1 Larval Growth Retardant at Various Densities and Nutrition Levels

Abstract

Larval nutrition, but not larval density, affects production of growth retardant factor (GRF) by Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). GRF production was negatively correlated with daily larval food ration over the range of 0.1-1.0 mg food per larva. Larval density did not affect GRF production between 0.7 and 7.0 larvae per ml when larvae received 0.3 mg food per larva per day. It is suggested that food is more important than space as a population limiting factor in the natural environment of A. aegypti . The results of this study support the hypothesis that GRF acts as a population regulating mechanism.