Colonization of Coquillettidia linealis (Skuse) with reference to other Coquillettidia and Mansonia species

ABSTRACTThe immature stages ofCoquillettidia andMansonia mosquitoes are cryptic and spend the duration of their development attached to the tissues of subsurface aquatic plants. This obligatory association makes them difficult to collect and has precluded detailed investigation of the biology ofCoquillettidia linealis, a species of significant pest and vector status in Australia, as well as other species in the genusCoquillettidia in Australia and elsewhere. This paper describes the first successful establishment and maintenance of a colony ofCq. linealis. Blood ‐seeking wild adults were collected and induced to oviposit under laboratory conditions, where methods were developed to rear larval populations to adult maturity in a colony that was maintained through eight successive generations. Colonies ofCoquillettidia xanthogaster andCoquillettidia sp. nrcrassipes were also established and reared through at least six generations and five generations, respectively, while two species ofMansonia,Mansonia uniformis andMansonia septempunctata, were also reared successfully for six and two generations, respectively.
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research