Variations in the Ommatidia and Compound Eyes of Three Species of Mosquito Vectors

Abstract

The compound eye is one of the most important organs of the insects, which is made up of compact individual eye elements known as ommatidia. Each ommatidium is externally visible as a facet. The number of ommatidia was found to be different in numbers in compound eyes of different mosquitoes vector species (Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aeedes aegypti), which was manually counted by corneal spreads. Laboratory- reared mosquitoes were used in this study. The mean number of ommatidia was different in numbers among adults (610-900) and pupae (455-896) in three different mosquito species examined Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aeedes aegypti respectively. Variability was observed in number of ommatidia in aquatic and adult stages within the species and among three different mosquito species. The ommatidia in compound eye of the mosquito vectors were found to be hexagonal shape and regular in size. It was observed that the An. stephansi male and female have dichoptic eye whereas Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti male and female have holoptic eye.