Age composition of the filarial vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Calcutta, India

Age composition of the filarial vector mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) was determined by examining the number of ovariolar dilatations of 1200 adult females from Calcutta. Average duration of the gonotrophic cycle was 4.5 days. The proportion parous, the daily survival rate and daily mortality rates of the natural population were 0.53, 0.87 and 13%, respectively. The oldest mosquito sampled in the study area passed eight gonotrophic cycles in its lifetime.