Parâmetros biológicos de Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) no município de Caxias, Maranhão

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is epidemiologically important worldwide because it transmits viruses that cause diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. The viruses are transmitted through the bite of the female mosquito, which requires blood to mature its eggs. It belongs to the phylum Arthropoda, class Hexapoda, order Diptera, family Culicidae, and the genus Aedes. It has a holometabolous life cycle, comprising the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, lasting an average of 8 to 12 days. The adult survives for approximately 40 days, depending on environmental conditions, a determining factor in the transmission of arboviruses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biological parameters of Ae. aegypti under laboratory conditions. During April and May 2019, immature (egg) samples were collected in five neighborhoods of the city of Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil, one in each neighborhood. The immatures were collected using oviposition traps (ovitraps), placed in the peridomiciles of the residences, and were later transported to the laboratory for colony maintenance and observation of biological parameters (fecundity, fertility and longevity). A total of 727 eggs belonging to the species Ae. aegypti were collected. For individual colony monitoring, 100 eggs from the F1 generation were used, of which 50 hatched and gave rise to larvae, corresponding to 50% of the egg viability. The same procedure was performed in the remaining generations up to F4. In the life cycle of Ae. aegypti, the egg stage had an average duration of 4.71 days, the total larval stage was 2.45 days, and the pupal stage lasted an average of 2.25 days. The complete cycle lasted an average of 10.5 days. Regarding sex, females were longer-lived (28.5 days) than males (19.4 days). The female oviposition rate was 48% (N=24), with preference for oviposition occurring at 7:00 a.m. and three days after the meal, with an average of 43 eggs laid per female. Studying these parameters will support the responsible agencies in adopting and intensifying control measures for this vector in the municipality of Caxias, Maranhão.