Laboratory observations on the bionomics of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

A laboratory colony of Aedes fluviatilis (Lutz) was established in ambient conditions in Brazil in which temperature varied from 22 to 31°C and relative humidity from 61 to 73%. Females laid eggs 3–13 days (mean 5·6 days) after a blood-meal and produced, on average, 64·3 eggs per batch. Eggs were usually deposited directly on the surface of water and preferentially on water that had previously contained fourth-instar larvae. The eggs proved to have little resistance to desiccation, hatching rates being reduced when eggs were kept on dry filter paper for only 1–3 days. Hatching took place following the detachment of a cap-like portion of the anterior end or through an irregular longitudinal split along the side of the egg. In different experiments, about 10–20% of eggs failed to hatch. Eggs usually hatched 2 days after oviposition. The average length of larval life was 10·2 days, and the highest proportion of larvae pupated on day 9. The duration of the successive immature stages increased geometrically with age. Mortality was 1–2% in each of the first 3 larval instars but rose to about 10% in the fourth. In the larval stage, males developed more rapidly than females. Crowding lengthened the duration of the larval stage, reduced the numbers surviving to pupate and resulted in a disparate sex ratio with emergent males much more abundant than females. Pupation occurred throughout the day and night with a slight peak at 05.00–06.00 h. The pupal stage lasted 1–3 days, usually 2 days, and was the same in both sexes.

wFlu: Characterization and Evaluation of a Native Wolbachia from the Mosquito Aedes fluviatilis as a Potential Vector Control Agent

“…fluviatilis colony used was originally isolated in 1975 from the vicinity of FIOCRUZ Minas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil [49], [52]. The colony has since been continuously maintained at FIOCRUZ Minas, at 27±1°C, and 70±10% relative humidity, in a 12∶12 hour light:dark cycle.…”

“…However, the ease of laboratory colonization and maintenance of Ae. fluviatilis [49], together with its high susceptibility to infection with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum [50], means that this mosquito species is a particularly convenient and safe laboratory model for studying malaria and vector-parasite interactions [51]. Furthermore, as the transfer of Wolbachia between phylogenetically-similar hosts is thought to be easier than that between distantly-related hosts [24], [25], artificial infection of the mosquito species that are the vectors of human pathogens may be facilitated by using Wolbachia from other non-vector mosquito species [22].…”

Atividade predatória de Helobdella triserialis lineata (Hirudinea: Glossiphonidae) sobre formas imaturas de Aedes fluviatilis e Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) em laboratório

“…Em relação às fêmeas das duas espécies de culicidae estudadas, sabemos de sua capacidade de discriminação específica quanto a presença de suas formas imaturas na água ou de substâncias ali deixadas por suas larvas e pupas 2,3,13 . Nos presentes experimentos, as fêmeas das duas espécies mostraram um comportamento diferente, já que encontramos um maior número de ovos de Ae.…”

Screening of Asteraceae (Compositae) Plant Extracts for Larvicidal Activity against Aedes fluviatilis (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…This mosquito shares many biological characteristics with Ae. aegypti, the vector of yellow fever, and has been shown to be an useful model in biological studies of experimental infections and insecticide susceptibility tests (Consoli & Williams 1978, Camargo et al 1983.…”