Vivian Petersen1,2, Marco Jacometto Marchi3, Delsio Natal3, Mauro Toledo Marrelli3, Admilson Clayton Barbosa4, Lincoln Suesdek1,5. 1. Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto sensu em Biologia da Relação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 4. Empresa Metropolitana de Águas e Energia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 5. Programa em Pós-Graduação Stricto sensu em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo,Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Mass production of mosquitoes under laboratory conditions allows implementing methods to control vector mosquitoes. Colony development depends on mosquito size and weight. Body size can be estimated from its correlation with wing size, whereas weight is more difficult to determine. Our goal was to test whether wing size can predict the weight. METHODS: We compared dry weight and wing centroid size of Culex quinquefasciatus reared at different temperatures and four diets. RESULTS: Weight and wing size were strongly correlated. The diets did not influence wing size. CONCLUSIONS: Wing centroid size is a good predictor of Cx. quinquefasciatus body weight.
INTRODUCTION: Mass production of mosquitoes under laboratory conditions allows implementing methods to control vector mosquitoes. Colony development depends on mosquito size and weight. Body size can be estimated from its correlation with wing size, whereas weight is more difficult to determine. Our goal was to test whether wing size can predict the weight. METHODS: We compared dry weight and wing centroid size of Culex quinquefasciatus reared at different temperatures and four diets. RESULTS: Weight and wing size were strongly correlated. The diets did not influence wing size. CONCLUSIONS: Wing centroid size is a good predictor of Cx. quinquefasciatus body weight.