Estudios comparativos del ciclo de vida del mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera: culicidae) de dos colonias de la costa atlántica colombiana

Abstract

This pilot study was carried out in the laboratory to establish whether the Aedes taeniorhynchus mosquito, found in Cartagena and Barranquilla, is really a single strain and if the colonisation process (cultured in the laboratory) influences the time taken in the developmental stages of this dipthera's life cycle. Colonies were established with adult mosquitoes, both males and females, collected from sites close to the cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.The insects were taxonomically identified and placed in Gerberg jars into which cupfuls of humid earth were introduced so that oviposition could take place. Six continuous generations were kept at an average temperature of 27°C and 80% average relative humidity. lmmature forms were fed with minced Ken-L; sugar solution was given to adults of both sexes and females were given a guinea pig to provide their blood intake. The duration of each stage of the biological cycle for each generation was recorded and these were analysed by means of the t-test for comparison of averages of independent samples. For larva (t=1 .SI) and pupa (k0.30) duration time for the two mosquito populations no significant differences were found; however, hatching time, when it occurred, was k4.21. No significant differences were found for pupa or for larva hatching duration time for the six generations of mosquito from Cartagena, but when significant differences in larval stage duration time were presented, they occurred from the fourth generation onwards. This pilot study's results suggest that the Aedes taeniorhynchus mosquito from Cartagena and Barranquilla represents a sole species. Furthermore, it shows that its colonisation process, being that which involves the adaptation of this insect to the special conditions and have an influence on the duration of its biological cycle.