13 research outputs found
Efficiency of Three Diets for Larval Development in Mass Rearing Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
A fundamental step in establishing a mass production system is the development of a larval diet that promotes high adult performance at a reasonable cost. To identify a suitable larval diet for Aedes albopictus (Skuse), three diets were compared: a standard laboratory diet used at the Centro Agricoltura Ambiente, Italy (CAA) and two diets developed specifically for mosquito mass rearing at the FAO/IAEA Laboratory, Austria. The two IAEA diets, without affecting survival to the pupal stage, resulted in a shorter time to pupation and to emergence when compared with the CAA diet. At 24 h from pupation onset, 50 and 90% of the male pupae produced on the CAA and IAEA diets, respectively, had formed and could be collected. The diet received during the larval stage affected the longevity of adult males with access to water only, with best results observed when using the CAA larval diet. However, similar longevity among diet treatments was observed when males were supplied with sucrose solution. No differences were observed in the effects of larval diet on adult male size or female fecundity and fertility. Considering these results, along with the relative costs of the three diets, the IAEA 2 diet is found to be the preferred choice for mass rearing of Aedes albopictus, particularly if a sugar meal can be given to adult males before release, to ensure their teneral reserves are sufficient for survival, dispersal, and mating in the field
An analysis of diet quality, how it controls fatty acid profiles, isotope signatures and stoichiometry in the malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis.
Knowing the underlying mechanisms of mosquito ecology will ensure effective vector management and contribute to the overall goal of malaria control. Mosquito populations show a high degree of population plasticity in response to environmental variability. However, the principle factors controlling population size and fecundity are for the most part unknown. Larval habitat and diet play a crucial role in subsequent mosquito fitness. Developing the most competitive insects for sterile insect technique programmes requires a "production" orientated perspective, to deduce the most effective larval diet formulation; the information gained from this process offers us some insight into the mechanisms and processes taking place in natural native mosquito habitats.Fatty acid profiles and de-novo or direct assimilation pathways, of whole-individual mosquitoes reared on a range of larval diets were determined using pyrolysis gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry. We used elemental analysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry to measure individual-whole-body carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous values and to assess the impact of dietary quality on subsequent population stoichiometry, size, quality and isotopic signature. Diet had the greatest impact on fatty acid (FA) profiles of the mosquitoes, which exhibited a high degree of dietary routing, characteristic of generalist feeders. De-novo synthesis of a number of important FAs was observed. Mosquito C:N stoichiometry was fixed in the teneral stage. Dietary N content had significant influence on mosquito size, and P was shown to be a flexible pool which limited overall population size.Direct routing of FAs was evident but there was ubiquitous de-novo synthesis suggesting mosquito larvae are competent generalist feeders capable of survival on diet with varying characteristics. It was concluded that nitrogen availability in the larval diet controlled teneral mosquito size and that teneral CN ratio is a sex- and species-specific fixed parameter. This finding has significant implications for overall mosquito competitiveness and environmental management
Adult production per dish (n = 3) against dietary quality, Experiment 3.
<p>Adult production per dish (n = 3) against dietary quality, Experiment 3.</p
Experiment 2.
<p>Graphic showing the occurrence of <i>de-novo</i> synthesis or direct uptake as a percentage of the total population analysed. NB. Any number under 100% indicates the fatty acid was not present in all the <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i> mosquitoes analysed.</p
Experiment 2.
<p>Average relative fatty acid composition of diets and <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i> mosquitoes reared on the different diets (typically n = 3).</p
Regression analysis of average (n = 3) TBN against TBC, where bubble size represents TBP, Experiment 2.
<p>Regression analysis of average (n = 3) TBN against TBC, where bubble size represents TBP, Experiment 2.</p
Experiment 1.
<p>Total body nitrogen (TBN) versus total body carbon (TBC) of individual <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i> mosquitoes, where bubble size represents the square of the deviation from average wing length.</p
Regression analysis of Experiment 1 data, (linear unless otherwise indicated).
<p>NS denotes not significant at p>0.05 level.</p
Average relative fatty acid composition of diets and mosquitoes (no of replicates given as n in parenthesis).
<p>SLP and BLP stands for Squid and Bovine liver powder respectively.</p
Beta values of multivariate analysis of mosquitoes against diet Experiment 2.
<p>Beta values of multivariate analysis of mosquitoes against diet Experiment 2.</p