Mosquito autogeny in Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae): alterations of larval nourishments reservation upon bacterial infection

Journal Article

2013

, Ahmed, A. M. . 2013

The present study recorded mosquito autogeny for the first time amongst Aedes

caspius species in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Laboratory rearing showed an

obligatory autogenous species of Ae. caspius since it foregoes blood feeding during its

first ovarian cycle, even in the presence of the hosts (CD mouse), but produces its second

egg batch only if ingested a blood meal. Both morphological and molecular identification

confirmed that both autogenous and anautogenous strains belong to the same species of

Ae. caspius. Data from biochemical analysis showed significant 2, 1.6, and 1.4 folds higher

total carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids reserves respectively in the fourth larval instar of

the autogenous strain compared to that of the anautogenous ones. In addition, exposing the

fourth larval instars of autogenous strain to the infection stress by the mosquito larvicidal

bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki has significantly reduced total carbohydrates,

proteins and lipids reserves by 29%, 35%, and 46%, respectively, at 12 h postinfection

compared to those of uninfected ones. These reductions in nourishment reserves weremore

pronounced at 24 h postinfection in the case of proteins and lipids, but not carbohydrates.

These results may indicate that bacterial infection is a health stress that significantly

reduced nourishments reservation, which may interrupt the success of adult autogeny.

However, the impact of infection-induced decline in larval nourishments reservation on

successful adult autogeny is still to be investigated.

• Publication Work Type: Lab Work
• Volume Number: 20
• Magazine \ Newspaper: Insect Science
• Pages: 472-484