Difference of larval period observed between males and females of Culex pipiens pallens

Abstract

The difference of larval period between the male and the female was observed on Culex pipiens pallens. In both sexes, period of 2nd instar larva was the shortest, 1st, 3rd instar larval and pupal stage came next and 4th instar was the longest. No differences were observed between the male and the female in the length of periods of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd instar larval and the pupal stages, but that of the 4th instar of females was longer than that of males. Generally speaking, the male emerges 1-2 days earlier than the female, and this phenomenon seemed to depend on mainly the difference in the length of 4th instar larva.