MORPHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE CYCLE OF AEDES AEGYPTI IN DIFFERENT WATER MEDIA

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue fever, and its life cycle is influenced by environmental conditions, including the type of water used as a breeding medium for the larvae. This study aimed to compare the morphological development and life cycle of Ae. aegypti in four different water sources: tap water, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast water, rainwater, and well water. A descriptive-comparative experimental approach was employed using four treatments, each comprising 50 Ae. aegypti eggs. The observed parameters included egg hatching success, developmental duration from egg to adult, morphological characteristics at each developmental stage, and pH of each water medium. The results showed that yeast water produced the fastest development, requiring approximately 6 days from egg to adult, followed by tap water (8 days), whereas rainwater and well water required approximately 10 days. Nearly all eggs hatched in yeast water and tap water, whereas approximately 75% hatched in rainwater and well water. The pH of the water ranged from 6.47–6.87. In conclusion, different water media influenced the developmental duration of the Ae. aegypti life cycle, with yeast water supporting the fastest development under the conditions of this study.