Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs
(1) Background: Larval diet composition significantly influences the developmental, physiological, and reproductive traits of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and <i>Ae. aegypti</i>, major arbovirus vectors. Optimizing larval nutrition is essential for mass-rearing programs supporting t...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Qianqian Li Tongxin Wei Yan Sun Jehangir Khan Dongjing Zhang |
| author_facet | Qianqian Li Tongxin Wei Yan Sun Jehangir Khan Dongjing Zhang |
| author_sort | Qianqian Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Larval diet composition significantly influences the developmental, physiological, and reproductive traits of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and <i>Ae. aegypti</i>, major arbovirus vectors. Optimizing larval nutrition is essential for mass-rearing programs supporting the sterile insect technique and incompatible insect technique. This study evaluated the effects of three larval diets on key fitness traits, including pupation rate, male flight ability, adult longevity, female fecundity, pupal size, and wing length, which are critical for the success of SIT and IIT programs. (2) Methods: <i>Ae. albopictus</i> (GT strain) and <i>Ae. aegypti</i> (AEG strain) were reared on three diets with varying protein sources: diet 1 (≈1.23 dollars/kg; porcine liver/shrimp/yeast = 6:3:1), the IAEA-recommended diet; diet 2 (≈1.78 dollars/kg; bovine liver/shrimp/yeast = 6:3:1), a modified IAEA diet; and diet 3 (≈0.55 dollars/kg; tortoise food), a low-cost laboratory formulation. Life history traits were assessed using standardized protocols, and data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. (3) Results: Diet 3 consistently improved pupation rates, adult longevity, and male flight ability compared with diet 2. Mosquitoes reared on diets 1 and 3 exhibited significantly larger pupae and longer wings, while diet 2 performed sub-optimally. Adult eclosion rates (~100%) remained high across all diets. Male flight ability varied by species, with <i>Ae. albopictus</i> performing best on diet 1 and <i>Ae. aegypti</i> on diet 3. Female fecundity was diet-dependent, with diet 1 favoring <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and diet 3 benefitting <i>Ae. aegypti</i>. Longevity was highest in mosquitoes reared on diet 3, with a median survival of 19.5 days for GT males and 37.5 days for GT females. (4) Conclusions: Diet 3 emerged as the most cost-effective option, enhancing key fitness traits essential for SIT and IIT. Future studies should refine nutrient formulations and validate findings under field conditions to optimize mass-rearing efficiency in vector control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90a02cd613344c588623938babd0df2c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-90a02cd613344c588623938babd0df2c2025-08-20T01:56:19ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-05-0116548310.3390/insects16050483Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control ProgramsQianqian Li0Tongxin Wei1Yan Sun2Jehangir Khan3Dongjing Zhang4Clinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaClinical Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaChinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaChinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaChinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China(1) Background: Larval diet composition significantly influences the developmental, physiological, and reproductive traits of <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and <i>Ae. aegypti</i>, major arbovirus vectors. Optimizing larval nutrition is essential for mass-rearing programs supporting the sterile insect technique and incompatible insect technique. This study evaluated the effects of three larval diets on key fitness traits, including pupation rate, male flight ability, adult longevity, female fecundity, pupal size, and wing length, which are critical for the success of SIT and IIT programs. (2) Methods: <i>Ae. albopictus</i> (GT strain) and <i>Ae. aegypti</i> (AEG strain) were reared on three diets with varying protein sources: diet 1 (≈1.23 dollars/kg; porcine liver/shrimp/yeast = 6:3:1), the IAEA-recommended diet; diet 2 (≈1.78 dollars/kg; bovine liver/shrimp/yeast = 6:3:1), a modified IAEA diet; and diet 3 (≈0.55 dollars/kg; tortoise food), a low-cost laboratory formulation. Life history traits were assessed using standardized protocols, and data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. (3) Results: Diet 3 consistently improved pupation rates, adult longevity, and male flight ability compared with diet 2. Mosquitoes reared on diets 1 and 3 exhibited significantly larger pupae and longer wings, while diet 2 performed sub-optimally. Adult eclosion rates (~100%) remained high across all diets. Male flight ability varied by species, with <i>Ae. albopictus</i> performing best on diet 1 and <i>Ae. aegypti</i> on diet 3. Female fecundity was diet-dependent, with diet 1 favoring <i>Ae. albopictus</i> and diet 3 benefitting <i>Ae. aegypti</i>. Longevity was highest in mosquitoes reared on diet 3, with a median survival of 19.5 days for GT males and 37.5 days for GT females. (4) Conclusions: Diet 3 emerged as the most cost-effective option, enhancing key fitness traits essential for SIT and IIT. Future studies should refine nutrient formulations and validate findings under field conditions to optimize mass-rearing efficiency in vector control.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/483larval diets<i>Ae. aegypti</i><i>Ae. albopictus</i>life history traitsmass rearing |
| spellingShingle | Qianqian Li Tongxin Wei Yan Sun Jehangir Khan Dongjing Zhang Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs Insects larval diets <i>Ae. aegypti</i> <i>Ae. albopictus</i> life history traits mass rearing |
| title | Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs |
| title_full | Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs |
| title_short | Optimizing Cost-Effective Larval Diets for Mass Rearing of <i>Aedes</i> Mosquitoes in Vector Control Programs |
| title_sort | optimizing cost effective larval diets for mass rearing of i aedes i mosquitoes in vector control programs |
| topic | larval diets <i>Ae. aegypti</i> <i>Ae. albopictus</i> life history traits mass rearing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/5/483 |
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