Techniques to improve the maintenance of a laboratory colony of Nyssomyia neivai (Diptera: Psychodidae).
BACKGROUND
The most critical phase in sand fly colonization is the high mortality in the larval instars. In this study, we sought out strategies for improving the colonization of Nyssomyia neivai, one of the vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis agent in South America.


METHODS
A colony of Ny. neivai was established in the laboratory from a field population, and the productivity of adults was evaluated considering carrying capacity, diet for larvae and surface for oviposition.


RESULTS
The highest emergency rate of adults was achieved with the fewest couples inside 150 mL rearing chambers on a sterilized diet made of rabbit feces, rabbit food, soil and fish food and with vermiculite as a substrate for oviposition and the development of larvae.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data on Ny. neivai colonization showed that the best adult productivities were achieved with fewer couples inside the rearing chambers; smaller rearing containers of 150 mL (due to less fungi growth); sterilized diet made of rabbit feces, rabbit food, soil and fish food; and vermiculite as the substrate for oviposition and development of larvae.
Departamento de Zoologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil. thamarchi@gmail.com.
Thais Marchi
TM
Goulart
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil. mila.feitosa.castro@gmail.com.
Camila Feitosa
CF
de Castro
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil. vicentemachado@yahoo.com.br.
Vicente Estevam
VE
Machado
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil. flavinhabenini@gmail.com.
Flávia Benini
FB
da Rocha Silva
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil. marap@fcfar.unesp.br.
Mara Cristina
MC
Pinto
D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D007753:Laboratories; D007814:Larva; D010058:Oviposition; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits