Collection and Rearing of Container Mosquitoes and a 24-h Addition to the CDC Bottle Bioassay

Abstract

Container mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) oviposit their eggs in both natural and artificial containers. Many container mosquito species also serve as important vectors of disease-causing pathogens including Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. triseriatus. Control of these species can be done through the use of adulticide sprays. The efficacy of these treatments is highly dependent on the insecticide susceptibility status of the local mosquito populations. This paper provides protocols on collecting and rearing container mosquitoes for use in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bottle bioassay. A brief description of the CDC bottle bioassay is provided as well as a standardized protocol for the incorporation of a 24-h mortality to the CDC bottle bioassay. Results from this 24-h holding addition to the CDC bottle bioassay reveal that some forms of resistance may be missed without the incorporation of the additional mortality reading. These protocols provide a foundation for new laboratories to establish rearing protocols and begin conducting resistance monitoring.

Developmental performance of Eristalis tenax larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae): Influence of growth media and yeast addition during captive rearing

“…Diet or food source affects development across a wide range of Diptera, including important vectors, such as Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) (Parker, 2020), animal pests, such as horn flies ( Haematobia irritans , Diptera: Musidae) (Holderman et al, 2020), fruit flies such as Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) (Yang, 2018), and beneficial insects, such as the secondary screwworm ( Cochliomyia macellaria F., Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Ahmad et al, 2006). In the present study, the positive correlation observed between yeast supplemented growth media and adult emergence of E. tenax suggest that an adequate growth medium is necessary for producing larger colonies, even if factors other than the growth medium might be important.…”

“…Diptera: Culicidae)(Parker, 2020), animal pests, such as horn flies (Haematobia irritans, Diptera: Musidae)(Holderman et al, 2020), fruit flies such as Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)(Yang, 2018), and beneficial insects, such as the secondary screwworm (Cochliomyia macellaria F., Diptera: Calliphoridae) (Ahmad…”

Impacts of differential mosquito control treatment regimens on insecticide susceptibility status of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…Egg collections were made using several ovicups throughout each of the treatment areas. Ovicups were constructed using a 16 oz plastic cup and attaching seed germination paper to the inside of the cup using binder clips [40]. During the mosquito season, ovicups were deployed throughout the treatment areas and filled with water to encourage oviposition by container mosquitoes.…”

“…Rearing protocols described in [40] were followed when handling field collected samples. Briefly, the number of eggs on the field collected papers were assessed for viability and quantified to determine the number of viable eggs on each paper.…”

“…CDC definitions were used to categorize field populations as susceptible (> 97% mortality at diagnostic time), developing resistance (90-96% mortality), or resistant (< 90% mortality) [43]. At the conclusion of the 2-h bottle bioassay, mosquitoes were transferred to clean holding cages to allow for a 24-h mortality reading, described previously [40]. Holding cages were covered with a fine mesh and mosquitoes were provided a 10% sucrose-soaked cotton ball until the 24-h mortality reading.…”