The longevity of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is determined by carbohydrate intake

ABSTRACT Aedes aegypti is the vector of several viral diseases. The main way to control these diseases is to fight the vector. Thus, it is necessary to breed mosquitoes in the laboratory in order to develop strategies to control these insects. In laboratories, different carbohydrates are used for feeding mosquitoes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the longevity and the weight of Ae. aegypti fed with different carbohydrates diets. As methods, 120 mosquitoes were distributed in insectaries and each group received a different diet, based on honey, dextrose or maltodextrin. To assess the longevity, survival analysis was performed using the Long Rank test and chi square test. To assess the weight, the dead insects were frozen and weighed at the end of the experiment. As results it was observed that mosquitoes fed with the honey, maltodextrin and dextrose diet lived on average 33, 35 and 47 days respectively. When weight was assessed, mosquitoes fed with honey weighed 125 ± (35.3) µg, while those fed with dextrose and maltodextrin weighed 225 ± (35.3) µg and 275 ± (35.3) µg respectively. The results show that the intake of dextrose and maltodextrin by Ae. aegypti adults increases their survival and their weight.

摘要 埃及伊蚊（Aedes aegypti）是多种病毒性疾病的传播媒介。防控此类疾病的主要手段为防治其传播媒介，因此需在实验室中饲养繁育埃及伊蚊，以研发针对该昆虫的防控策略。实验室中通常采用不同碳水化合物喂养埃及伊蚊。本研究旨在评估喂食不同碳水化合物日粮的埃及伊蚊的寿命与体重。
方法 共120只蚊子被分配至养虫笼，各组分别喂食以蜂蜜、右旋糖（dextrose）或麦芽糊精（maltodextrin）为基础的不同日粮。寿命评估采用对数秩检验（Long Rank test）与卡方检验（chi square test）开展生存分析；体重评估则于实验结束后将死亡昆虫冷冻并称量。
结果 观测显示，喂食蜂蜜、麦芽糊精与右旋糖的蚊子平均寿命分别为33天、35天与47天。体重方面，喂食蜂蜜的蚊子体重为125±(35.3)μg，而喂食右旋糖和麦芽糊精的蚊子体重分别为225±(35.3)μg与275±(35.3)μg。本研究结果表明，埃及伊蚊成虫摄取右旋糖与麦芽糊精可延长其存活时长并提升体重。