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Survival and development of immature Aedes aegypti in artificial desiccating breeding sites under laboratory conditions
Author(s) -
Luz C.,
Marques C. S.,
Rodrigues J.,
Sousa N. A.,
Fernandes É. K. K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/jen.12348
Subject(s) - biology , larva , aedes aegypti , instar , chikungunya , pupa , vector (molecular biology) , dengue fever , aedes , agar , zoology , ecology , veterinary medicine , virology , medicine , biochemistry , genetics , gene , bacteria , recombinant dna
The ability of aquatic stages of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), key vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, to survive in minimal residues of water has remained unstudied. We found that larvae eclosed from up to 50% of eggs set in permanent water films on water agar (at 1–2% agar), and some (≤9.5%) of these first‐instar larvae developed to second instar (L2). Mean larval survival was about 2 weeks; the longest periods of survival were 31.6 and 38.7 days in a water film and in free water controls, respectively. In another test, L3 moved in the films, with the greatest displacements of the larvae being up to 45 mm per day in the first 3 days; subsequent displacements in the water film were distinctly reduced during the next 20 days by which time all L3 had died. L3 did not detect or move in any directed manner in the film towards nearby small quantities of free water. Most pupae (≥93.7%) placed into water films or in water survived and developed to adults within 3 days. The unexpected survival of aquatic immature stages in desiccating breeding sites might be a reason for both the tenacious persistence of mosquito populations in seasons with infrequent rainfall and failures of classical control strategies against this important vector.