Table 4 Comparative description of eggs of An. culicifacies species A, D and E showing morphological differences
|  | An. culicifacies ‘A’ | An. culicifacies ‘D’ | An. culicifacies ‘E’ |
|---|---|---|---|
Colour | Black | Black | Black |
Shape | Boat-shaped in lateral, ventral and dorsal views | Broadly boat-shaped in both ventral and dorsal views | Broadly boat-shaped in both ventral and dorsal views |
Ventral and dorsal surface | Ventral surface concave, dorsal surface curved | Ventral surface concave, dorsal surface strongly curved | Ventral surface slightly concave, dorsal surface curved |
Anterior and posterior ends | Anterior and posterior ends blunt, sometimes pointed | Anterior end blunt, posterior end slightly pointed and sometimes blunt | Anterior end blunt, posterior end slightly pointed, sometimes blunt |
Anterior lobed ventral tubercles | Usually oval | Usually oval or oblong, but occasionally round | Usually oval or oblong |
Posterior lobed tubercles | Similar in structure to anterior lobed tubercles | Similar in structure to anterior lobed tubercles | Similar in structure to anterior lobed tubercles but sometimes found to be round |
Number of antero-ventral tubercles | 3–7 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
Number of postero-ventral tubercles | 1–2 No. less from No. of antero-ventral tubercles | 2–3 (Similar in No. to No. of antero-ventral tubercles) | Only 1 No. less from No. of antero-ventral tubercles |
Micropyle | Outline of micropylar collar irregular in shape and well developed | Micropylar collar irregular in outline, with smooth surface | Outline of micropylar collar irregular in shape, with slight striations |
Number of sectors of micropylar disc | Bigger micropyle with 6–7 sectors | Only 6 sectors | Only 6 sectors |
Floats | Short and closer to ventral than dorsal surface | Relatively short and narrow in dorso-ventral plane | Relatively long and wide in dorso-ventral plane |
Deck | Continuous, slightly narrows at middle of float, anterior part of deck usually as wide as posterior part | Continuous, anterior part of deck usually wider than posterior part | Continuous and anterior part of deck usually wider than middle part |