THE EFFECT OF RADIOACTIVE PHOSPHORUS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CULEX PIPIENS MOLESTUS FORSK
Radioactive larvae, pupae, and adults were produced by adding Na/sub 2/ HP/sup 32/O/sub 4/ to the larval rearing medium, consisting of tap water and dog food pellets. For all initial concentrations of P/sup 32/ in the larval medium, the larger the larva, the greater the uptake of P/sup 32/. At an initial concentration of 10.0 C of P/sup 32/ per ml, about half of the larvae died within 10 days. P/sup 32/ had little noticeable effect on larval growth up to a concentration of 3.0 C/ml; above this concentration, growth was greatly retarded. Pupation by larvae in media having a P/sup 32/ concentration 1.0 C/ ml was prolonged to over 5 weeks, and at concentrations of 3.0 and 5.0 C/ml, only a small percentage of the larvae initially introduced into the media pupated. At P/sup 32/ concentrations of 5.0 C/ml or higher, no adults emerged. However, at 1.0 C/ml, the next lower concentration tested, 50% of the treated individuals emerged. It is suggested that, for efficient utilization of P/sup 32/ in large-scale field experiments, a concentration of 1.0 C/ml would be needed to produce adult mosquitos sufficiently radioactive to be readily detectable by a scaler or survey meter. It was concluded that radiation may affect growth and development of mosquitoes by disruption of enzyme systems and inhibition of various processes necessary for pupal differentiation. (TCO)
- Research Organization:
- Cairo Univ.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-019823
- OSTI ID:
- 4725926
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of Entomological Research (England), Vol. Vol: 52; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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