Effects of nitric and sulfuric-nitric acid solutions on mortality and development of aedes triseriatus mosquito larvae and pupae
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Abstract
An acid rain simulation was created under laboratory conditions to study the effects of mortality rates and developmental time of Aedes triseriatus (Say) mosquito larvae. Two hundred-forty instar 1 mosquitoes were placed into separate 120 ml glass jars containing rain water adjusted to pH 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 with a nitric acid solution. A second part of the experiment was set up like the first except a 70 percent to 30 percent sulfuric-nitric acid solution was used to adjust pH levels. Mortality and developmental time was observed until the insects reached maturity or died.No significant differences at the .05 level in mortality rates were observed between larvae raised in nitric acid solution as compared to sulfuric acid solution. However, exposures to 70 to 30% sulfuric-nitric solution resulted in a significantly (0.05) higher mortality at pH levels 4, 5, and 6 than the sulfuric acid or nitric acid exposures.Developmental time did not vary more the 0.5 days between the sulfuric acid exposure group and the nitric acid group except at pH 4.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306