We investigated alternatives to whole blood for blood feeding of mosquitoes with a focus on improved stability and compatibility with mass rearing programs. In contrast to whole blood, an artificial blood diet of ATP-supplemented plasma was effective in maintaining mosquito populations and was compatible with storage for extended periods refrigerated, frozen, and as a lyophilized powder. The pl...

The relationships among BW, backfat depth, and body physical and chemical composition were evaluated in response to dietary protein and DE balance in breeding gilts from 30 kg of BW to weaning of the first litter. Large White (sire) x Landrace (dam) F1 hybrid (White; n = 75) and Landrace (sire) x (Meishan x Large White; dam) (Meishan; n = 19) hybrid gilts were received at 30 kg of BW. Five gilt...

Mass rearing methods on artificial diets and cruciferous seedlings for the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L, are reviewed and described briefly.

The idea of implementing genetics-based insect control strategies modelled on the traditional SIT (Sterile Insect Technique), such as RIDL (Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal), is becoming increasingly popular. In this paper, we compare a genetically modified line of Aedes aegypti carrying a tetracycline repressible, lethal positive feedback system (OX513A) with a genetically similar...

Sexual selection requires both that there is heritable variation in traits related to fitness, and that either some of this variation is linked to traits of the parents, and/or that there are direct benefits of choosing particular individuals as mates. This suggests that if direct benefits are important offspring performance should be predicted by traits of the rearing adults. But if indirect b...

In the study of arthropods in poultry manure, the key predator of house fly larvae encountered was the beetle Carcinops pumilio Erichson (Coleoptera: Histeridae) (Achiano and Giliomee, 2003, 2005a, b, 2006a, b). It is also considered as a major predator in the suppression of synanthropic flies in poultry houses in the USA (Legner, 1971; Geden and Stoffolano, 1987) and in Britain (Bills 1973, Co...

As the incidence of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) has increased in Southern Brazil in the past 3 yr, an initiative to release sterile flies and parasitoids has started. In order to make feasible the mass-rearing of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed), this study investigated the suitability of A. fraterculus larvae derived from irradiated eggs as host for D. longicaudata T...

Aedes aegypti is the major vector of dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses that put millions of people in endemic countries at risk. Mass rearing of this mosquito is crucial for strategies that use modified insects to reduce vector populations and transmission of pathogens, such as sterile insect technique or population replacement. A major problem for vector mosquito mass rearing is the...

INTRODUCTION Selection of the artificial membrane feeding technique and blood meal source has been recognized as key considerations in mass rearing of vectors. METHODOLOGY Artificial membrane feeding techniques, namely, glass plate, metal plate, and Hemotek membrane feeding method, and three blood sources (human, cattle, and chicken) were evaluated based on feeding rates, fecundity, and hatch...