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Female Mosquitoes (female + mosquito)
Selected AbstractsA minimalist approach to the effects of density-dependent competition on insect life-history traitsECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Philip Agnew Abstract ,1. Due to its effects on the phenotypic and genotypic expression of life-history traits, density-dependent competition is an important factor regulating the growth of populations. Specifically for insects, density-dependent competition among juveniles is often associated with increased juvenile mortality, delayed maturity, and reduced adult size. 2. The aim of the work reported here was to test whether the established phenotypic effects of density-dependent competition on life-history traits could be reproduced in an experimental design requiring a minimal number of individuals. Larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti were reared at densities of one, two, or three individuals per standard Drosophila vial and in six different conditions of larval food availability. This design required relatively few individuals per independent replicate and included a control treatment where individuals reared at a density of one larva per vial experienced no density-dependent interactions with other larvae. 3. Increased larval densities or reduced food availability led to increased larval mortality, delayed pupation, and the emergence of smaller adults that starved to death in a shorter time (indicating emergence with fewer nutritional reserves). 4. Female mosquitoes were relatively larger than males (as measured by wing length) but males tended to survive for longer. These differences increased as larval food availability increased, indicating the relative importance of these two traits for the fitness of each sex. The role of nutritional reserves for the reproductive success of males was highlighted in particular. 5. This minimalist approach may provide a useful model for investigating the effects of density-dependent competition on insect life-history traits. [source] Molecular characterization of a prophenoloxidase cDNA from the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensiINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2000L. Cui Abstract Some refractory anopheline mosquitoes are capable of killing Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, by melanotic encapsulation of invading ookinetes. Phenoloxidase (PO) appears to be involved in the formation of melanin and toxic metabolites in the surrounding capsule. A cDNA encoding Anopheles stephensi prophenoloxidase (Ans-proPO) was isolated from a cDNA library screened with an amplimer produced by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with degenerate primers designed against conserved proPO sequences. The 2.4-kb-long cDNA has a 2058 bp open reading frame encoding Ans-proPO of 686 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence shows significant homology to other insect proPO sequences especially at the two putative copper-binding domains. In A. stephensi, Ans-proPO expression was detected in larval, pupal and adult stages. The Ans-proPO mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization in haemocytes, fat body and epidermis of adult female mosquitoes. A low level of expression was detected in the ovaries, whereas no expression was detected in the midguts. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of Ans-proPO mRNA showed that its expression was similar in adult female heads, thoraxes and abdomens. No change in the level of Ans-proPO expression was found in adult females after blood feeding, bacterial challenge or Plasmodium berghei infection. However, elevated PO activity was detected in P. berghei -infected mosquitoes, suggesting that in non-selected permissive mosquitoes PO may be involved in limiting parasite infection. Genomic Southern blot and immunoblots suggest the presence of more than one proPO gene in the A. stephensi genome, which is consistent with the findings in other Diptera and Lepidoptera species. The greatest similarity in sequence and expression profile between Ans-proPO and A. gambiae proPO6 suggests that they might be homologues. Our results demonstrate that Ans-proPO is constitutively expressed through different developmental stages and under different physiological conditions, implying that other factors in the proPO activation cascade regulate melanotic encapsulation. [source] Could insecticide-treated cattle reduce Afrotropical malaria transmission?MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2004Effects of deltamethrin-treated Zebu on Anopheles arabiensis behaviour, survival in Ethiopia Abstract.,Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae) is the most widespread vector of malaria in the Afrotropical Region. Because An. arabiensis feeds readily on cattle as well as humans, the insecticide-treatment of cattle , as employed to control tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae) and ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) , might simultaneously affect the malaria vectorial capacity of this mosquito. Therefore, we conducted field experiments in southern Ethiopia to establish whether Zebu cattle (Bos indicus L.) treated with a pour-on pyrethroid formulation of 1% deltamethrin, widely used to control ticks and tsetse, would be effective against An. arabiensis or cause the female mosquitoes to feed more frequently on humans, due to behavioural avoidance of insecticide-treated cattle. Contact bioassays (3 min exposure) showed that the insecticide remained effective for about 1 month (kill rate > 50%) against mosquitoes feeding on the flanks of treated cattle. A novel behavioural assay demonstrated that An. arabiensis readily fed on insecticide-treated cattle and were not deflected to human hosts in the presence of treated cattle. DNA-fingerprinting of bloodmeals revealed that An. arabiensis naturally feeds most frequently on older animals, consistent with the established practice of applying insecticide only to older cattle, while allowing younger untreated animals to gain immunity against infections transmitted by ticks. These encouraging results were tempered by finding that > 90% of An. arabiensis, An. pharoensis and An. tenebrosus females feed on the legs of cattle, farthest from the site of pour-on application along the animal's back and where the treatment may be least residual due to weathering. Observations of mosquitoes feeding naturally on insecticide-treated cattle showed that the majority of wild female anophelines alighted on the host animal for less than 1 min to feed, with significantly shorter mean duration of feeding bouts on insecticide-treated animals, and the effective life of the insecticide was only 1 week. Thus the monthly application of deltamethrin to cattle, typically used to control tsetse and ticks, is unlikely to be effective against An. arabiensis populations or their vectorial capacity. Even so, it seems likely that far greater impact on anopheline mosquitoes could be achieved by applying insecticide selectively to the legs of cattle. [source] Horizontal transfer of the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen to larval microcosms by gravid Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus triseriatus mosquitoes in the laboratoryMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2003B. Dell Chism Abstract., The insect growth regulator (IGR) pyriproxyfen is highly active against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Through continuous emersion of large larvae (instars 3,4) the concentration causing 50% inhibition of adult emergence (EI50) was determined as 0.200 p.p.b. for Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and 3.5 to 7 times less for Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say): IE50 0.0288 p.p.b. As a possible method of application to larval microscosms of these species that oviposit in water containers and phytotelmata, the horizontal transfer of pyriproxyfen to larval microcosms by adult mosquitoes was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Gravid females were forced to walk on surfaces treated with pyriproxyfen (tarsal contact exposure) and then allowed to oviposit in larval microcosms. Using replicate bioassay cages, each with an oviposition container, and a factorial experimental design, we assessed Ae. albopictus for the effects of (i) pyriproxyfen concentration (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mg/cm2) contacted by gravid females, and (ii) the number of treated gravid females added to bioassay cages (one, three or five females/cage), on the mortality of larvae in oviposition containers. Only 0.2 mg/cm2 treatment rate was tested on Oc. triseriatus. A significant (P < 0.05) curvilinear response in inhibition of emergence (IE) was achieved on both species. Densities of one or three treated Oc. triseriatus females/cage yielded IE rates of only 21,27%, whereas five treated females/cage resulted in 70% inhibition. With Ae. albopictus, densities of three or five treated females/cage yielded 48,67% and 59,73% IE, respectively, whereas one treated female/cage gave only 4,30% inhibition. Use of IGR-treated oviposition containers to achieve horizontal transfer of pyriproxyfen to mosquito oviposition sites could be a field management technique based on mosquito biology and behaviour. In binary choice tests with Ae. albopictus, horizontal transfer of pyriproxyfen from a container with a treated ovistrip (0.3 or 0.4 mg/cm2) to an untreated microcosm resulted in 14,38% inhibition. In larval bioassays, pyriproxyfen activity declined markedly within 10 days. Forcibly exposing gravid female mosquitoes to pyriproxyfen-treated paper surface did not affect their fecundity. However, from the 1st to 2nd gonotrophic cycles the egg hatch rate declined by 30% (P < 0.05). Some variation of results could be due to interactions between females at the oviposition site, possibly causing disproportionate transfer of pyriproxyfen to larval microcosms. Comparative studies of the oviposition behaviour of each mosquito are warranted and would potentially provide information needed to improve the technique. [source] Evaluation of biological and chemical insecticide mixture against Aedes aegypti larvae and adults by thermal fogging in SingaporeMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Y. K. Chung Abstract. To improve the operational efficiency of dengue vector control in Singapore, larvicide and adulticide were applied together by thermal fog generator (Agrofog® AF40). The mixture consisted of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Vectobac® 12 AS) as biological larvicide at 1.5 L/ha and pirimiphos-methyl (Actellic® 50 EC) as adulticide at 100 g ai/ha, diluted 10-fold with water. Aerosol of this mixture was evaluated against the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) in bioassays using cages of 10 adult females exposed at heights of 0.3,2.4 m and distances of 3,12 m from the hand-held generator. Cups containing 200 mL water were treated at ground level by exposure to the aerosol application at the same distances from the generator. Subsequent larval bioassays on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-spray involved exposing 20 larvae/cup for 48 h. Droplets had VMD 57 µm and female mosquitoes were killed by 2 s exposure to the aerosol at 3 m. We obtained 92,100% mortality of the adult mosquitoes and 100% control of larvae at 3 m distance, but only 10,13% mortality at 12 m from the fogger. In treated cups, larvae showed high mortality (92%) when exposed for 48 h even 1 month post-treatment. Results demonstrate the practical advantage of using this mixture of Vectobac® 12AS and Actellic® 50 EC for simultaneous control of Aedes adults and larvae, with prolonged larvicidal efficacy in treated containers. [source] Olyset Net® efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus after 3 years' field use in Côte d'IvoireMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2001R. N'Guessan Summary Pyrethroid-impregnated bednets are advocated for personal protection against malaria vectors. To avoid the need for periodic re-treatment, it would be advantageous to have nets that retain insecticidal efficacy for years and withstand repeated washing. Such a type of commercially produced bednet with permethrin 2% incorporated in polyethylene fibres (trademark Olyset Net® supplied by Sumika Life-Tech Co., Osaka, Japan) was evaluated against mosquitoes in veranda-trap huts at Yaokoffikro, near Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, by standard WHOPES phase II procedures. Four Olyset Nets were compared with a standard untreated polyester net as control. They comprised three examples previously used in a village for over 3 years (one washed, one dirty, one very dirty) and a previously unused Olyset Net, newly unwrapped, from the same original batch. Bioassays with 3 min exposure of susceptible Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) gave >,99% mortality of female mosquitoes tested on the ,new' Olyset Net. The used Olyset Nets gave mortality rates averaging 83% for the washed net, 85% for the dirty net and 55% for the very dirty net (within 24-h following 3 min exposure). Thus, Olyset Nets were found to remain remarkably effective against susceptible An. gambiae for at least 3 years under field conditions. Wild pyrethroid-resistant populations of Culex quinquefasciatus Say and An. gambiae (savanna cytotype with 96% kdr) were assessed during June,August 1999 for their responses to sleepers protected by nets in the experimental huts. With regard to hut entry by foraging female mosquitoes, Olyset Nets showed some deterrency against An. gambiae (44% reduction by the new net, ,20% by the dirty nets, none by the washed net), but not against Cx. quinquefasciatus. Among mosquitoes entering the hut with untreated control net, 30,34% tried to leave (exophily) but were caught in the verandah trap. The permethrin repellency of Olyset Nets increased exophily by 19% for An. gambiae and 14% for Cx. quinquefasciatus. Blood-feeding rates were 16% An. gambiae and 35% Cx. quinquefasciatus in the hut with sleeper under the untreated net (showing considerable prevention of biting), 22,26% of both species in huts with washed or dirty used Olyset Nets (not significantly different from control), while the biting success rate of Cx. quinquefasciatus (but not kdr An. gambiae) was more than halved by the ,new' Olyset Net. Mortality rates of pyrethroid-resistant An. gambiae and Cx. quinquefasciatus from the huts were, respectively, 3% and 8% with the untreated polyester net, 27.5% and 17% with the ,new' Olyset, 15% and 17.5% with the washed Olyset, 16,25% and 17,20% with dirty old Olyset Nets. Kill differences between nets are significantly different for both An. gambiae and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Unfortunately the washed used Olyset Net showed least activity against resistant mosquitoes, despite its greatest activity against susceptible An. gambiae. In each case there was evidence that a high proportion of mosquitoes failed to feed through the net (many of them dying from starvation when they could not leave the closed hut), with indications that dirty Olyset nets enhanced this protective value. [source] Mode of action of methoprene in affecting female reproduction in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiaePEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 9 2010Hua Bai Abstract BACKGROUND: One of the most studied actions of juvenile hormone (JH) is its ability to modulate ecdysteroid signaling during insect development and metamorphosis. Previous studies in mosquitoes showed that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) regulates vitellogenin synthesis. However, the action of JH and its mimics, e.g. methoprene, on female reproduction of mosquitoes remains unknown. RESULTS: Here, a major malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae Giles, was used as a model insect to study the action of methoprene on female reproduction. Ecdysteroid titers and expression profiles of ecdysone-regulated genes were determined before and after a blood meal. An ecdysteroid peak was detected at 12 h post blood meal (PBM). The maximum expression of ecdysone-regulated genes, such as ecdysone receptor (EcR), hormone receptor 3 (HR3) and vitellogenin (Vg) gene, coincided with the ecdysteroid peak. Interestingly, topical application of methoprene at 6 h PBM delayed ovarian development and egg maturation by suppressing the expression of ecdysone-regulated genes in female mosquitoes. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that ecdysteroid titers are correlated with Vg synthesis, and methoprene affects vitellogenesis by modulating ecdysteroid action in A. gambiae. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Attract-and-kill strategy.PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 10 2007Laboratory studies on hatched larvae of Culex pipiens Abstract The attract-and-kill strategy is a new pest management technique that presupposes the intelligent combination of an attracting agent (e.g. pheromone) and a killing agent (e.g. insecticide). In the present study, the potential combination of the microencapsulated synthetic oviposition pheromone 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide with an insecticide has been tested. Initially, polyurea microcapsules containing 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide, the synthetic mixture of diastereomers of the oviposition pheromone of the mosquito species Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), were studied. Laboratory bioassays were performed to confirm the bioactivity of the microencapsulated pheromone on the oviposition activity of Culex pipiens L. biotype molestus Førskal (Diptera: Culicidae) with the aim of determining the optimum dose for oviposition response. Its effect was dose dependent, revealing an optimum dose of 300 mg of dried microcapsules. Attractancy over time was also studied. The microencapsulated pheromone was found to be sufficiently attractive to gravid female mosquitoes for a period of 40 days. Finally, the combination of the synthetic pheromone with the control agent temephos showed both an acceptable oviposition activity and sufficient larvicidal effect. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Identification and expression of odorant-binding proteins of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensisARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2005Zheng-Xi Li Abstract Host preference and blood feeding are restricted to female mosquitoes. Olfaction plays a major role in host-seeking behaviour, which is likely to be associated with a subset of mosquito olfactory genes. Proteins involved in olfaction include the odorant receptors (ORs) and the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). OBPs are thought to function as a carrier within insect antennae for transporting odours to the olfactory receptors. Here we report the annotation of 32 genes encoding putative OBPs in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae and their tissue-specific expression in two mosquito species of the Anopheles complex; a highly anthropophilic species An. gambiae sensu stricto and an opportunistic, but more zoophilic species, An. arabiensis. RT-PCR shows that some of the genes are expressed mainly in head tissue and a subset of these show highest expression in female heads. One of the genes (agCP1588) which has not been identified as an OBP, has a high similarity (40%) to the Drosophila pheromone-binding protein 4 (PBPRP4) and is only expressed in heads of both An. gambiae and An. arabiensis, and at higher levels in female heads. Two genes (agCP3071 and agCP15554) are expressed only in female heads and agC15554 also shows higher expression levels in An. gambiae. The expression profiles of the genes in the two members of the Anopheles complex provides the first step towards further molecular analysis of the mosquito olfactory apparatus. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 58:175,189, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Spatial distribution of vectors of Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus on Russell Island, Moreton Bay, QueenslandAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Jason AL Jeffery Abstract We used a network of 20 carbon dioxide- and octenol-supplemented light traps to sample adult mosquitoes throughout Russell Island in southern Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland. Between February and April 2001, an estimated 1365 564 adult female mosquitoes were collected. In contrast to an average catch of 9754 female mosquitoes per trap night on Russell Island, reference traps set on Macleay Island and on the mainland returned average catches of 3172 and 222, respectively. On Russell Island, Ochlerotatus vigilax (Skuse), Coquillettidia linealis (Skuse), Culex annulirostris Skuse and Verrallina funerea (Theobald), known or suspected vectors of Ross River (RR) and/or Barmah Forest (BF) viruses, comprised 89.6% of the 25 taxa collected. When the spatial distributions of the above species were mapped and analysed using local spatial statistics, all were found to be present in highest numbers towards the southern end of the island during most of the 7 weeks. This indicated the presence of more suitable adult harbourage sites and/or suboptimal larval control efficacy. As immature stages and the breeding habitat of Cq. linealis are as yet undescribed, this species in particular presents a considerable impediment to proposed development scenarios. The method presented here of mapping the numbers of mosquitoes throughout a local government area allows specific areas that have high vector numbers to be defined. [source] | |||||||||||||