I wanted to do the same for such a long time. But, the
wife didn't approve and Illinois is West Nile Central.
So, I couldn't and didn't want to take health risks.
You could also just collect the rafts and save them. Then,
just pop in a raft in a tank. The fish will eat the larvae
as they hatch. Hopefully, none will mature into adults.
But, keep those tanks covered with fine netting.
One thing that I remember is that the larvae sink when the
water is disturbed. Now, all you would need to do is
disturb the water and drain some water from the bottom to
collect the max number of larvae. It would help to have a
spigot on the side of the tub. If you setup brine-shrimp
cone hatchers to collect mosquito eggs, then you could just drain
the larvae from the bottom. Just sharing an idea.
I'll ask my dad about the minimum hatching time and get back
to you.
Sajjad
--- nanfa_at_jonahsaquarium.com wrote:
> OK bug fans, I want to put containers (tubs, pools, whatever)
> outside for the purpose of collecting wild mosquito larvae. I've
> noticed that one tub I have out now quickly produced _lots_ of larvae
>
> and eggs. Here's what I want to know: What is the minimum
> generation time from egg to adult mosquito? I'm sure this is
> temperature dependent, so let's say at 80-85 F. I want to be sure to
>
> empty each contaner before any adult mosquitos have emerged and after
>
> I have harvested the maximum number of larvae/pupae. Don't want to
> be a producer of pest insects, just free live fish food. So whadduya
>
> think? How long 'til they come flying after me in revenge for
> parasitizing their race?
>
> Mark
>
> PS -- How does one find out when municipalities are spraying for
> insects?
=====
-- Sajjad Lateef sajjad_at_acm.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org