A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF UPTAKE AND LOSS OF WATER BY EGGS OF AEDES VEXANS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractAedes vexans (Meigen) eggs which lose water under conditions of constant atmospheric saturation deficiencies, gain water when transferred to a saturated atmosphere. Water loss is influenced by age. At relative humidities of 80% and 50%, and temperatures of 10° and 21 °C, eggs that were 28 days old lost less water than eggs 14 days old. Eggs which lost up to 34% of their weight through desiccation regained 91% of lost water within 3 days in a saturated atmosphere. Embryos remained viable. Eggs which lost 68% of their original weight in water were rendered inviable and only regained 33% of the loss in a saturated atmosphere.