[Survival of Aedes albopictus: physiological age and reproductive history].
OBJECTIVE
To study the longevity of Ae. albopictus populations in rural and urban areas in two different feeding conditions and to assess their physiological age and reproductive history.


METHODS
Ae. albopictus larvae were collected in the Para ba Valley, (urban area) and Ribeira Valley (rural area), S o Paulo State, Brazil. In the laboratory, females were fed with sugar or blood and monitored daily. The day of death of each mosquito and other reproduction related characteristics were registered. Ovaries were dissected using Polovodova techniques and follicular development was examined according Christophers and Mer. Life tables were created and statistics analysis was performed for survival rates. Data analysis was carried out using Stata 7.0.


RESULTS
Gonotrophic discordance was seen in both populations. Parous females developed terminal sacs. Nulliparous females had normal ovaries and in some cases dilatations were seen. Females fed with sugar showed higher survival rates. Statistical difference in survival rates was not observed in the populations of both areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Parity status and physiological age of Ae. albopictus were not described using ovarioles analysis because they formed terminal sacs instead of dilations. Longevity of Ae. albopictus females was influenced by the food provided.
Fernández
Zoraida
Z
Instituto Nacional de Higiene 'Rafael Rangel', Caracas, Venezuela. zofeman@hotmail.com
Forattini
Oswaldo Paulo
OP
D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D001938:Brazil; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D017584:Reproductive History; D016019:Survival Analysis
D002241:Carbohydrates