Present progress towards the laboratory colonization of African Simuliidae (Diptera)
Raybould, J.N.; Grunewald, J.
Tropenmedizin und Parasitologie 26(2): 155-168
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0303-4208 PMID: 1162730 Document Number: 82972
The laboratory colonisation of African Simuliids would facilitate critical work on many aspects of their biology and enable vectors of Onchocerca to be studied away from their natural breeding sites and at times of year when little material is normally available. The literature on past achievements in this field is reviewed, and the authors' own studies are described. These centered on flies of the complexes of Simulium damnosum Theo. and S. neavei Roub. because they include vectors of human onchocerciasis [caused by O. volvulus]. Other species studied have included vectors of O. glutturosa, a parasite of cattle, and certain bird parasites. Techniques for collecting the various developmental stages of African Simuliids are discussed. Adults may be kept singly in small containers or together in larger vessels and fed on sugar solutions, fruits or flowers. Only two members of the complex of S. damnosum (one not yet identified) and one species of the complex of S. bovis De Meillon are so far known to mate in captivity