title: Standardized Laboratory Feeding of Larval Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae).
abstract: The Asian bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus japonicus, Theobald 1901) is an invasive culicid species which originates in Asia but is nowadays present in northern America and Europe. It is a competent vector for several human disease pathogens. In addition to the public health threat, this invasive species may also be an ecological threat for native container-breeding mosquitoes which share a similar larval habitat. Therefore, it is of importance to gain knowledge on ecological and eco-toxicological features of the Asian bush mosquito. However, optimal laboratory feeding conditions have not yet been established. Standardized feeding methods will be needed in assessing the impact of insecticides or competitional strength of this species. To fill this gap, we performed experiments on food quality and quantity for Ae. j. japonicus larvae. We found out that the commercial fish food TetraMin (Tetra, Melle, Germany) in a dose of 10 mg per larva is the most suitable food tested. We also suggest a protocol with a feeding sequence of seven portions for all larval stages of this species.
authors.affiliation: Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Friederike.Bock@senckenberg.de.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kuch
authors.affiliation: Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfenninger
authors.affiliation: Goethe University, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Environmental Toxicology and Medical Entomology, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D058865:Introduced Species; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male
keywords: Asian bush mosquito; feeding; life cycle; reserve substance; water parameter