Abstract
Toxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann) larvae were raised in fresh water and fed one of four regimens of Culex quinquefasciatus Say larvae, or Aedes aegypti (L.) larvae ad libitum. The four regimens of C. quinquefasciatus were ad libitum, two prey per day during developmental days 1–10, two prey per day during days 10 through pupation, and two prey per day through pupation. Reproductive rate of the resulting adults was compared among all treatments. Higher reproduction rate was significantly correlated with higher weight at pupation, but weight at pupation was dependent on the rate of food ingested only during the final instar. Adults from larvae fed A. aegypti ad libitum oviposited fewer eggs than those receiving C. quinquefasciatus larvae ad libitum during fourthinstar development. Daily rates of egg production were higher in all groups receiving ad libitum prey in the fourth instar than in those receiving two prey per day during the fourth instar. Larval development at a rate of two third-instar prey per day was as long as 64 d, whereas larvae given prey ad libitum, required no more than 22 d from egg hatch to pupation.
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