The action of lecithin monolayers on mosquitoes. II. Action on the respiratory structures.

Experiments on the interaction between the water surface and the respiratory structures of larvae and pupae of five species of mosquitoes showed that in the presence of a lecithin monolayer, a stable, soap-bubble type film is formed which prevents the insect from surfacing. Subsequently, wetting of the hydrophobic areas takes place. In pupae, buoyancy is lost through flooding of the ventral air space.