Laboratory colonization and maintenance of Toxorhynchites moctezuma
Tikasingh, E.S.; Martinez, R.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 8(1): 44-46
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 8756-971X PMID: 1349915 Document Number: 404332
A colony of T. moctezuma [a member of the T. theobaldi complex] was established at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre in Trinidad in 1984. T. moctezuma was maintained in cages with high humidities. Eggs were deposited most frequently in a cut bicycle tyre containing water. A minimum of 42 h was required for hatching, but 94% hatched between 43 and 51 h. Aedes aegypti larvae were supplied as prey. Larval development times varied with the quantity of prey offered, but when fed ad lib, peak developmental time was 18 days. Mean pupal developmental time was 5.5 days. Although only 12% of larvae survived to pupation in 3 years of production, experience indicated that this species would be a likely candidate for mass production and release. The authors describe their experience with a colony that was established at the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre in Trinidad in 1984. Although the survival of larvae to pupation is low (only 12%) the species is stated to be easy to colonize and maintain, making it a likely candidate for mass production and release as a control agent.Carolyn A. Brown.