1. Determination of fecundity rate Determination of survivorship rate
The Effect of Sugar Concentration on Aedes albopictus Fecundity, Biting Behavior and Survivorship: Implication for mosquito-borne diseases in Malaysia.
Muhammad Aiman Naziri, Nur Faeza A Kassim*
Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia
*contact authors:
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
Aedes albopictus or Asian Tiger Mosquito is a mosquito native to Asia, and has been one of the fastest spreading species in the past two decades (Benedict, Levine, Hawley, & Lounibos, 2007). Ae. albopictus is one of the most common mosquito species in urban area. Its life style is closely associated with human habitat.
Figure 1: The illustration of female Ae. albopictus.
Figure 5: The mean (± SE) of eggs produced by females Ae. albopictus for wild-strain and lab-strain.
Sugar is a necessity for both male and female mosquitoes as a source of nutrition for life continuity. Meanwhile, blood is necessary for protein consumption for eggs development which is required by females. Both blood and sugar are interchangeable depending on mosquito needs. In wild environment, mosquitoes feed on sugar that can be obtained from floral and nectar. However, there are still lack of study focusing on varies sugar availability in nature and its effect to mosquito populations (Foster, 1995). This study emphasize more on how restriction effect on different sucrose concentrations could affect the biological behavior of adult female Ae. albopictus.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
The wild-strain eggs were collected around Tasik Aman and Tasik Harapan which located in USM campus, and the lab-strain eggs were obtained from Vector Control and Research Unit (VCRU), USM.
Rearing condition was maintained at temperature of 30.0 ± 2.0ºC and humidity of 66.6 ± 9.0%.
Figure 6: The mean percentage of alive female of Ae. albopictus for both strains under four different sucrose concentrations.
Figure 7: The daily mean (± SE) biting frequency of females Ae. albopictus for wild-strain and lab-strain.
Figure 2: Tasik Aman and Tasik Harapan in USM campus, location for mosquito sampling.
Mosquito eggs were hatched in container containing dechlorinated water.
The larvae were supplied with standard amount of larval foods until it transformed into pupae.
The pupae were transferred inside a new beaker covered with a net on the opening.
Adult mosquitoes were transferred into cages (20 males + 20 females).
The mosquitoes were supplied with sucrose solution immediately after being introduced into cages. (10%, 30%, 50% or 70% sucrose solution).
The blood meal were introduced during the 4th day of female mosquitoes.
DISCUSSION AND IMPORTANCE OF THE RESULTS
The amount of sugar intake by mosquito can be limited by its ability to ingest the sugar source.
Mosquito may not be able to liquefied highly concentrated sugar solutions using its saliva (Eliason, 1963).
Mosquitoes that fed on higher sucrose solutions (50% or 70%) are considered lack in sugar nutrient after the sugar feeding. Females that lack in sugar nutrient, utilize more nutrient from blood meal for eggs production causing higher biting rates. However, mosquitoes that lack in sugar nutrient but with higher blood nutrient, have lower rate of survivability.
Could improve control interventions targeting sugar-feeding mosquitoes as promising strategy to control mosquito. (eg: attractive toxic sugar baits).   
Determination of fecundity rate
Eggs were laid on filter paper soaked inside a beaker with dechlorinated water
Changed for every 2 days
Eggs on dried filter paper were counted
Observation on host-biting behaviour
Started at 4th day
Blood feeding on mice
20 minutes, for 10 days (consecutively)
Fully engorged female resting on the cage wall is counted as one bite.
Determination of survivorship rate
Counted everyday
Dead mosquitoes were removed daily
The total amount of alive mosquitoes was counted after 15 days.
Figure 3: Methods on culturing the mosquito colonies.
REFERENCES
Eliason, D. A. (1963). Feeding adult mosquitoes on solid sugars. Nature 200:289.
Foster, W. A. (1995). Mosquito sugar feeding and reproductive energetics. Annual Review of Entomology, 40(1),
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank Universiti Sains Malaysia for funding the research (Short Term Grant: 304/PBIOLOGI/ ).
Figure 4: Methods on determining fecundity, biting frequency and survivorship.