Affiliation:
1. Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, FL
Abstract
AbstractLaboratory rearing procedures of Culicoides stellifer Coquillett (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were evaluated with an aim towards colonization of this species. Eggs collected from field-collected gravid females were placed on 0.25% agar slants and given a diet of 1) nematodes (Panagrellus redivivus Linnaeus), 2) nematodes + lactalbumin and yeast (LY), 3) microbes from nematode medium, and 4) tap water (autoclaved). Complete larval development to adult stage occurred only in two treatments: 1) nematodes and 2) nematodes + LY. Culicoides stellifer larvae could not survive beyond 1 wk on a diet of microbes alone or in the sterile water treatment. Larval survival rates were high using nematode diet (79.2 ± 11.3% [mean ± SE]) but were slightly lower in the nematode + LY group (66.5 ± 19.6%). Larval stage lasted ~21 d in both treatments. Sex ratio of F1 adults was ~1:1 (M:F) using nematode diet but was male biased (~2:1) with nematode + LY diet. These findings collectively suggest that a microbial community is required for midge larvae, either to support invertebrate prey base or as a potential food source. But in the present study, the supplied microbes alone were not sufficient to support midge survival/development. It appears that other nutritional components may also be essential to support the larval survival/development of C. stellifer. Overall, a simple diet of bacterial feeding nematodes and their associated microorganisms can be used to rear C. stellifer larvae under laboratory conditions. However, captive mating in F1 adults poses a major obstacle for successful colonization of this species currently.
Funder
University of Florida
State of Florida legislature
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Insect Science,General Veterinary,Parasitology
Cited by
12 articles.
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