Abstract

Aedes aegypti is a major vector of arboviruses such as dengue (DENV), Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) that may be controlled on an area-wide basis using the sterile insect technique (SIT). Larval diet is a major factor in mass-rearing for SIT programs. Accordingly, we compared dietary effects on immature development and adult fitness-related characteristics for laboratory based fish feed diet ‘Super Nova’ (Super Nova, Perfect Companion Group Co. Ltd., Thailand) and high quality feed for fingerlings, ‘Micro-180’ (Skretting, Neutreco company, USA) to use in SIT. The percentage of larvae that survived to pupation or to adult emergence did not differ significantly between the two diets under the same rearing conditions. On the second day of development, a good number of male pupae (69-71% among total male pupae) produced from both the diet treatments. The flight ability and the longevity of Ae. aegypti did not differ significantly with larval diets, irrespective of sex. In other aspects, the ‘Micro-180’ diet generally performed better. Larval development was faster on the ‘Micro-180’ than ‘Super Nova’ fish feed diet. An Adult female mosquito from the ‘Micro-180’ diet was significantly larger and exhibited higher fecundity compared to ‘Super Nova’ fish feed diet. We concluded that both the diet treatments are suitable and especially the ‘Micro-180’ diet is likely to be more suitable for mass-rearing of Ae. aegypti for area-wide SIT-based vector control.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti, larval diets, mass rearing, quality parameters, SIT