An Analytical Study about the Growth of Mosquito Larvae in Different Liquids

Background of the Study:


Mosquitoes are vector agents that carry disease-causing viruses and parasites from person to person without catching the disease themselves. Female mosquitoes suck blood from people and other animals as part of their eating and breeding habits. The female mosquito that bites an infected person and then bites an uninfected person might leave traces of virus or parasite from the infected person's blood. This insects, especially the female, are harmful in human health.

In its life cycle the mosquito undergoes complete metamorphosis, going through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. All mosquitoes must have water in which to complete their life cycle. This water can range in quality from melted snow water to sewage effluent and it can be in any container imaginable. The type of water in which the mosquito larvae is found can be an aid to the identification of which species it may be. Also, the adult mosquitoes show a very distinct preference for the types of sources in which to lay their eggs. They lay their eggs in such places such as tree holes that periodically hold water, tide water pools in salt marshes, sewage effluent ponds, irrigated pastures, rain water ponds, etc. Each species therefore has unique environmental requirements for the maintenance of its life cycle.

There are many diseases and infections caused by mosquitoes worldwide. Here in Philippines, dengue and malaria are the most common ones. These sickness can be dreadful causing deaths to people.

This study tries to find out if female mosquitoes can lay their eggs in different mediums: juice, soy sauce, vinegar, fruit extract (orange/lemon) , distilled water, rain water and tap water. The researchers would like to analyze the possibility of mosquitoes to lay eggs and growth of larvae.


Statement of the Problem

The growth of mosquitoes has been a big problem in the society. In this study, the researcher would try to prove the increase in population of mosquito larvae. The experiment has different set-ups of different mediums of liquid: juice, soy sauce, vinegar, fruit extract (specifically lemon), distilled water and tap water as control.

Specifically, the study would like to answer the following questions:

1.) Is there a possibility for the mosquito larvae to grow and reproduce in different kinds of liquid?
2.) Will there be an effect to the reproduction due to the difference of mediums?
3.) In what medium will mosquito larvae grow best? least number of mosquito larvae?


Hypothesis

Alternative Hypothesis:

► Mosquito can reproduce themselves despite the differences of liquid.

Null Hypothesis

► Mosquito can't reproduce themselves.


Significance of the Study

It has been known that all mosquitoes need water to be able to reproduce. This study tries to identify if these insects can reproduce in different medium of water. It would be a good information to the citizens to avoid these watery substance so that no mosquito can reproduce. This can also be a significant analysis for those who study about mosquitoes.

1.) Informative Value- It could give information to researchers whose studies are related to mosquitoes


Scope and Limitation

This study would like to find out if there is a possibility of mosquito reproduction in different mediums. The research is only limited in the analysis of reproduction and the effects. The researcher doesn't include the explanation of such events like the growth of mosquito larvae in a specific medium.


Definition of Terms

☼ Mosquito(Aedes aegypti)-a small slender fly found worldwide, especially in the tropics, that feeds on the blood of mammals, including humans, and transmits diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue; commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito, is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases as well

☼ Larvae- the wingless immature worm-shaped form of many insects that develops into a pupa or chrysalis before becoming an adult insect; in this study it refers to the immature form of mosquitoes