Effect of body size on energy reserves in Culex pipiens pallens females (Diptera: Culicidae)

We examined the relationship between body size and energy reserves of female Culex pipiens pallens under laboratory conditions. Small and large‐sized adult mosquitoes were obtained from larvae reared at different densities. There was a significantly positive relationship between pupal body weight and adult wing length depending on body sizes. Studies showed large females contained significantly higher contents of glycogen and lipid but lower protein stores in comparison to small females. Large sized mosquitoes accumulated higher percentages of glycogen (21.2% vs 15.9%) and lipid (45.8% vs 30.7%) but lower levels of protein (33.0% vs 53.4%) than small females. This result suggests that larval‐derived glycogen and lipid stores may be important in determining the body size of female Cx. pipiens pallens.