A Method of Rearing Salt-Marsh Mosquito Larvae in a Defined Sterile Medium1

Abstract

A sterile basal medium consisting of lactalbumin, sucrose or glucose, ribonucleic acid, alphacel, artificial sea water consisting of a mixture of inorganic salts, phosphate buffer, and a mixture of B-vitamins in distilled water, has been developed in which larvae of Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) can be reared aseptically from eggs to normal adults. Alphacel provided the necessary bulk for the larvae, and the salt solution and lactalbumin maintained optimum osmotic pressure for normal growth and development of the larvae. The average larval period on this medium at 28°C was 6½ days as compared with 5 days when larvae were reared on Fleischmann's active dry yeast and liver powder under nonsterile conditions. This medium also supports normal development of the larvae of A. sollicitans (Walker). Larvae of A. aegypti (L.) grew normally on this medium when the concentration of the salt solution was reduced to 2% artificial sea water.