The Effect of Varying Salinity on Larval Survival and Pupation Rates in the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti)

Abstract

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are deadly vectors of arboviral pathogens and breed in containers of freshwater associated with human habitation. We hypothesized that the salinity of the rearing environment would impact the pupation rate of Ae. aegypti larvae. High salinity concentrations are known to be lethal to developing Ae. aegypti larvae and lower salinity concentrations are known to delay larval time to pupation. We predicted that when Ae. aegypti Orlando larvae were placed in three salinity treatments (low, moderate, and high salinity), the higher salinities would increase time to pupation and decrease larval survival. We found that all larvae in the highest salinity treatment died before pupation and in the other two treatments there was no significant difference in survival or time to pupation compared to the control. This study should be replicated with larger sample sizes and more replicates as it has potential to yield information relevant to disease control.