Biodemographic Traits of the Vector Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquito: Insights from Indoor and Rice-Field-Associated Habitats

Select Volume / Issue:

• Volume 12,Issue 6, Nov. 2025

Year:

2025

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Culex quinquefasciatus, Life Table, Survivorship, Life Expectancy, Habitat Heterogeneity

Authors:

Kundu, Niloy

Journal:

IJRAS

Volume:

12

Number:

6

Pages:

77-85

Month:

November

ISSN:

2348-3997

Abstract:

Aims: Mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and lymphatic filariasis continue to pose serious public health challenges in eastern India. Culex quinquefasciatus, a predominant vector in this region, thrives across a wide range of habitats-including indoor containers and partially shaded outdoor sites such as rice-field-associated environments-which are abundant in districts like Purulia. Understanding its developmental biology under varying environmental conditions is essential for designing effective vector-control strategies. This study investigated the survivorship, instar duration, and life-table characteristics of Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from field sites in Purulia, India. Methods: First-instar larvae were reared separately under controlled indoor conditions and partially shaded outdoor conditions that represent typical semi-natural habitats. The duration of each larval instar, pupal period, mortality patterns, adult emergence, and life expectancy were recorded and analyzed through regression-derived population estimates and survivorship curves. Result: Larvae required 14.98 days indoors and 13.71 days outdoors to reach adulthood, with the fourth instar being the longest in both environments. Early instar mortality was highest across both settings, while late larval and pupal mortality varied between environments, reflecting ecological pressures associated with habitat type. Adult emergence was higher indoors (27.87%) than outdoors (18.33%). Life-table analyses indicated a type III survivorship curve, with life expectancy at hatching estimated at 8 days indoors and 5 days outdoors. These results align with earlier studies but also highlight the influence of local habitat features-especially nutrient-rich rice-field–linked outdoor sites-on mosquito development and population structure. Overall, climatic conditions, habitat characteristics, and resource availability were found to collectively shape the developmental dynamics of Cx. quinquefasciatus. The findings offer valuable insights into vector ecology in Purulia and may support more targeted strategies for controlling Japanese encephalitis and other Culex-borne diseases.

Full text: IJRAS_1191_FINAL.pdf [Bibtex]