Effects of sublethal exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on larval development and adult size in Aedes aegypti
Hare, S.G.; Nasci, R.S.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 2(3): 325-328
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 8756-971X PMID: 3507506 Document Number: 272609
Second-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti were exposed to various concentrations of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (serotype H-14) in the laboratory over a 24-h period and then removed to a clean environment. Adverse sublethal effects were recorded in the survivors as longer larval development times and reduced body size in the resulting adult mosquitoes. No negative effects were detected in survivors kept at a fixed density when a dosage of B. thuringiensis that was sufficient to kill 50% of the test larvae was applied. Where larval density decreased due to the effects of the pathogen, resulting in decreased competition for food, adult wing length was greater in the survivors than in adults from untreated larvae.