Effect of temperature on Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Coachella and San Joaquin Valleys of California.

The F1 progeny of Culex tarsalis Coquillett females from the Coachella (CV) and San Joaquin (SJV) valleys collected during April 1991, and April, July, and October 1993 were reared and maintained as adults at 5 constant temperatures ranging from 14 to 38 degrees C. CV F1 progeny exhibited smaller body size, enhanced survival during spring, and higher autogeny rates than SJV F1 progeny; however, upper and lower thermal tolerance limits, immature developmental rates and survivorship, and adult life table parameters were relatively similar for both strains. Mosquitoes from both sites exhibited midsummer changes in immature developmental rates and survivorship, adult wing length, life expectancy at emergence, and generation time. These data indicated that temperature may select for both spatial and temporal changes in mosquito biology.