Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: INSECT CRYOPRESERVATION, DORMANCY, GENETICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Location: Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research

Title: Sugar feeding improves survival of nondiapausing cold stored Culex pipiens

Authors
item Rinehart, Joseph
item Yocum, George
item Robich, Rebecca -

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 30, 2012
Publication Date: November 1, 2012
Repository URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ME12133
Citation: Rinehart, J.P., Yocum, G.D., Robich, R.M. 2012. Sugar feeding improves survival of nondiapausing cold-stored Culex pipiens. Journal of Medical Entomology. 49(6):1347-1354.

Interpretive Summary: The maintenance of laboatory insect cultures is a major expense in many entomology laboratories, both in terms of resources and time expended. In addition to operational costs, there can be biological costs as well, leading to the gradual reduction in insect quality. Previously, our research group reported that the northern house mosquito Culex pipiens could be stored as adults for up to two months, and that the colony could be quickly restored after cold storage. The current study investigates the benefits of sugar feeding adults during cold storage. Providing ready access to a sugar meal significantly improved storage survival, with 50% of the stored insects survivng almost 6 months of cold storage. These findings substantially improve the benefits of cold storage laboratories interested in maintaining colonies of this species.

Technical Abstract: The continuous culture of mosquitoes is a costly endeavor for vector biology laboratories. In addition to the resources that must be committed to colony maintenance, biological costs including genetic drift and accidental colony loss can also occur. While alternatives do exist, their application to mosquitoes is limited. Mosquito cryopreservation remains elusive, and many important species lack a well defined diapause. Previously, we demonstrated that cold storing nondiapausing mated adult females of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens resulted in a nearly four-fold increase in longevity when measured at the LT50, allowing for cold storage for up to ten weeks. In the present study, we used sugar feeding during cold storage to significantly improve cold storage longevity. At 6°C, the LT50 of cold stored females was 23 weeks, and 100% mortality was not realized until 43 weeks. Cold stored females did exhibit reduced fecundity, but egg production returned to normal levels within two generations. These results suggest that cold storage without diapause induction is a viable option for Cx. pipiens, and with the addition of sugar feeding, a colony could be maintained with less than two generations per year.

   

 
Project Team
Kemp, William - Bill
Rinehart, Joseph - Joe
Roehrdanz, Richard
Yocum, George
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
Related Projects
   DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR POLLINATORS, ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEE, MEGACHILE ROTUNDATA AND BLUE ORCHARD BEE, OSMIA LIGNARIA
   DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR HIGH THROUGH-PUT INSECT EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION
   SYNCHRONIZING POLLINATORS WITH ALMOND BLOOM: PART ONE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL COVARIATE FOR THE DENNIS/KEMP MODEL
 
 
Last Modified: 05/24/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House