Temperature Stress Effect on the Survival of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) Adult Mosquito: An Experimental Study

ABSTRACT

Abstract@#Introduction: The survivorship of mosquito is the most important aspect that affects its ability as a pathogen transmitting vector such as Aedes albopictus which is a vector of dengue. In this study, temperature stress effect on the survival of adult Aedes albopictus were investigated. Methods: It was conducted by manipulating different constant temperatures (15°C to 35°C) on juvenile stage of Ae. albopictus in natural and artificial container. Then, the development growth of adult mosquito was observed under laboratory condition. The effects of exposed temperature on certain biological parameters of adult mosquito were evaluated in terms of survival rates, longevity of female mosquito, fecundity rate, gonotrophic cycle and wing length of the adult mosquito. Results: In higher temperatures, the longevity of adult female was reduced and the highest longevity was found at optimum temperature (25°C) with average of 8.6 ± 0.18 days and 6.7 ± 0.29 days in natural and artificial container respectively. Both sexes showed a clearly tendency towards decreasing survivorship with increasing temperature where the highest survival was found at 15°C. Conversely, survival was lowest at a high temperature (30°C to 35°C). This study also showed that the wing length of both sexes was significantly affected by the rearing temperature where the longest found at 15°C and the shortest at 35°C. Conclusion: Thus, this study provide useful information of mosquito ecology in response to variation of temperatures.