Determination of the efficiency of diets for larval development in mass rearing Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Larval diet quality and rearing conditions have a direct and irreversible effect on adult traits. Therefore, the current study was carried out to optimize the larval diet for mass rearing of Aedes aegypti, for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)-based applications in Sri Lanka. Five batches of 750 first instar larvae (L1) of Ae. aegypti were exposed to five different concentrations (2-10%) of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommended the larval diet. Morphological development parameters of larva, pupa, and adult were detected at 24 h intervals along with selected growth parameters. Each experiment was replicated five times. General Linear Modeling along with Pearson's correlation analysis were used for statistical treatments. Significant differences (P < 0.05) among the larvae treated with different concentrations were found using General Linear Modeling in all the stages namely: total body length and the thoracic length of larvae; cephalothoracic length and width of pupae; thoracic length, thoracic width, abdominal length and the wing length of adults; along with pupation rate and success, sex ratio, adult success, fecundity and hatching rate of Ae. aegypti. The best quality adults can be produced at larval diet concentration of 10%. However, the 8% larval diet concentration was most suitable for adult male survival.

Development of an Alternative Low-Cost Larval Diet for Mass Rearing of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes In Sri Lanka

“…Initially larvae were fed with 1.5 mL of IAEA recommended larval diet. Then the larval diet was added once a day to a tray according to the following regime: day 1, 1.5 mL; day 2, 1.55 mL; day 3, 1.6 mL; day 4, 1.65 mL and day 5, 1.7 mL [15]. Once larvae become pupae (there will be a mixture of larvae and pupae in the tray), pupae were counted and transferred to 500 mL plastic cups containing distilled water using a pasture pipette.…”

“…Morphometric parameters of the preserved fourth instar Ae. aegypti larvae, namely, head length, head width, thoracic length, thoracic width, abdominal length, abdominal width, and total length were measured in the straight position using a digital USB camera xed in a stereo microscope and OPTIKA version 2.12 image processing software under magni cation (1 X) as described in Gunathilaka et al [15]. In addition, the pupation success of Ae.…”

“…In pupae, the cephalothorax length and width were measured in the straight position using under magni cation (1 X). The adult success was determined as the percentage of adults that emerged in relation to the total number of pupae introduced [15].…”

“…aegypti in many developing countries including Sri Lanka. However, IAEA diet should be either imported or locally prepared, both of which are costly [15]. Therefore, many countries are seeking to develop more economic alternative larval diets, which are readily available and provide the same nutritional properties to Ae.…”

Criação em massa de >i<Aedes Aegypti >/i<(Diptera: Culicidae) para aplicação no controle vetorial autocida: validação de uma linhagem, otimização e planejamento

“…A qualidade da dieta larval e as condições de criação influenciam fortemente as características morfológicas e comportamentais dos mosquitos em sua fase adulta (BRIEGEL;KNÜSEL;TIMMERMANN, 2001;COHEN, 2001;BENEDICT et al, 2009;GUNATHILAKA et al, 2017). Assim, em programas de controle de mosquitos que envolvem o uso da SIT, a produção em massa de machos estéreis competitivos requer uma dieta que forneça os nutrientes necessários para o adequado desenvolvimento larval e que seja de baixo custo BOND, 2017).…”