Vutthy Vong, Arshad Ali, Sarayut Onsanit, Suraphon Thitithanakul, Nawee Noon-Anant and Theerakamol Pengsakul

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2021.56

pp. 431 - 438

Abstract

This study examined the abundance of various immature mosquito species and ascertained selected environmental
conditions in the pitcher. A total of hundred pitchers (Nepenthes mirabilis var. mirabilis), including 50 upper pitchers and 50
lower pitchers, were collected during rainy and dry seasons from Songkhla Province, Thailand. A total of 546 mosquito larvae
belonging to two genera and three species were identified. Among the collections, 526 larvae of Tripteroides tenax (96.34%),
followed by 11 larvae of Tripteroides sp.1 (2.01%), and nine larvae of Toxorhynchites albipes (1.65%) were identified. The
abundance of mosquito larvae was noted to be higher during rainy season than during dry season. Mosquito larvae abundance
positively correlated with pitcher size, amount of detritus present, pH of the medium, abundance of microorganisms, and amount
of total fluid present in pitchers. Variation in abundance of mosquito larvae existing in pitchers is influenced by the presence of
predators therein and different seasons.

Keywords

• abundance
• mosquito larvae
• Nepenthes mirabilis var. mirabilis
• pitcher characteristics