Sistema de hematofagia artificial com biofilme polimérico atrativo para criação e manutenção de Culex quinquefasciauts (Diptera: Culicidae) em laboratório

Abstract

Culex genus groups the greatest diversity of species among Culicidae, and specie Culex quinquefasciatus, has great importance in public health due to the vectorial ability to transmit disease agents. The production and maintenance of this insect in the laboratory is essential to assist in research on its behavior and biology. Females perform hematophagy, so the maintenance of colonies in the laboratory implies the need for blood supply. For this, artificial feeders are used consisting of a blood reservoir and thin membranes that facilitate the penetration and feeding of mosquitoes. In this study, an artificial hematophagy system was developed and evaluated for the colonization and maintenance of Cx. quinquefasciatus in the laboratory, using as membrane an attractive polymeric biofilm, which contains L-lactic acid in its composition. The efficiency of this system was evaluated through the engorgement rate of Cx. quinquefasciatus females fed through the artificial hematophagy system with biofilm and by the method using Parafilm-M®. For this, the oviposition rate, larval development, pupation rate and emergence of adults fed through the attractive polymeric biofilm were measured. The mean percentage of Cx. quinquefasciatus females fed through the attractive biofilm was 87%, while only 20% were engorged with Parafilm - M ® (p < 0.0001). Feeding through the attractive biofilm was able to produce high rates of the evaluated biological parameters. We concluded that the attractive biofilm was superior to Parafilm - M ® and there was no interference of the biofilm components in the evaluated parameters.