title: Benchmarking vector arthropod culture: an example using the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae).
abstract: Numerous important characteristics of adult arthropods are related to their size; this is influenced by conditions experienced as immatures. Arthropods cultured in the laboratory for research, or mass-reared for novel control methods, must therefore be of a standard size range and known quality so that results are reproducible.
  
  
  
  A simple two-step technique to assess laboratory culture methods was demonstrated using the mosquito Anopheles gambiae s.s. as a model. First, the ranges of key development outcomes were determined using various diet levels. The observed outcomes described the physiologically constrained limits. Secondly, the same outcomes were measured when using a standard operating procedure (SOP) for comparison with the determined ranges.
  
  
  
  The standard method resulted in similar development rates to those of high and medium diets, wing length between those resulting from the high and medium diets, and larval survival exceeding all benchmark diet level values. The SOP used to produce experimental material was shown to produces high-quality material, relative to the biologically constrained limits.
  
  
  
  The comparison between all possible phenotypic outcomes, as determined by biological constraints, with those outcomes obtained using a given rearing protocol is termed "benchmarking". A method is here demonstrated which could be easily adapted to other arthropods, to objectively assess important characters obtained, and methods used, during routine culture that may affect outcomes of research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matilda Collins
authors.affiliation: Polo d'Innovazione Genomica, Genetica e Biologia S.C.a.R.L., Edificio D, 3º piano Polo Unico di Medicina ´Santa Maria della Misericordia´, Loc. S. Andrea delle Fratte, 06132, Perugia, Italy. rosemarysusanlees@gmail.com.|Insect Pest Control Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400, Vienna, Austria. rosemarysusanlees@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosemary Susan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Mark Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Benedict
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development*; D019985:Benchmarking; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Bioassay; Diet; Insect culture; Insecticide resistance; Morphometrics; Standard operating procedure; Vector capacity