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After overcoming the significant obstacle of getting adultCulexmosquitoes to reproduce and blood feed in the laboratory, maintaining a laboratory colony is much more achievable. However, great care and attention to detail are still required to ensure that the larvae have adequate food without being overwhelmed by bacterial growth. Additionally, achieving the appropriate densities of larvae and pupae is essential, as overcrowding delays development, prevents pupae from successfully emerging as adults, and/or reduces adult fecundity and alters sex ratios. Finally, adult mosquitoes should have constant access to H2O and nearly constant access to sugar sources to ensure that both males and females have adequate nutrition and can produce the maximum number of offspring. Here, we describe our methods for maintaining the Buckeye strain ofCulex pipiensand how other researchers might modify them to suit their specific needs.
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Establishing a Culex Colony from Field-Collected Eggs
Culexlarvae are well adapted to growing and developing in containers, and therefore collecting and rearing field-collectedCulexto adulthood in the laboratory is relatively straightforward. What is substantially more challenging is simulating natural conditions that encourageCulexadults to mate, blood feed, and reproduce in laboratory settings. In our experience, this is the most difficult hurdle to overcome when establishing new laboratory colonies. Here, we detail how to collectCulexeggs from the field and establish a colony in the laboratory. Successfully establishing a new colony ofCulexmosquitoes in the laboratory will allow researchers to evaluate physiologically, behaviorally, and ecologically relevant aspects of their biology and better understand and manage these important disease vectors.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1944324
- PAR ID:
- 10521082
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
- Volume:
- 2023
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 1940-3402
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- pdb.prot108079
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot108079
