The prey consumption and prey preference of the larvae of the mosquito Culex (Lutzia) raptor on the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus.

The maximum consumption of the larvae of the pest and vector mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus by the predatory mosquito Culex (Lutzia) raptor was studied at various instars of both the predator and the prey. The prey preferences of the predator when given lavae of different instars were also investigated. The IVth instar of the predator consumed the maximum number of Ist instar and the maximum biomass of IVth instar larvae of the prey. Instars I and II of the predator preferred the Ist of the prey; instars III and IV of the predator preferred instars II and III of the prey respectively. The predator consumed an average of 157.1 larvae during its whole larval period, when each instar of the predator was given its preferred instar of the prey.