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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Protocol for Mosquito Rearing (A. gambiae)
Published on: July 4, 2007
Colonization of Anopheles maculatus from Central Java, Indonesia
Michael J Bangs1, Toto Soelarto, Barodji
1US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2, Kompleks P2M/LitBangKes, Jl. Percertakan Negara No. 29, Jakarta, 10560 Indonesia.
Abstract:
The routine colonization of Anopheles maculatus, a reputed malaria vector from Central Java, is described. The strain is free mating and long lived in the laboratory. This species will readily bloodfeed on small rodents and artificial membrane systems. Either natural or controlled temperatures, humidity, and lighting provide acceptable conditions for continuous rearing. A simple larval diet incorporating a 10:4 powdered mixture of dried beef and rice hulls proved acceptable. Using a variety of simple tools and procedures, this colony strain appears readily adaptable to rearing under most laboratory conditions. This appears to be the first report of continuous colonization using a free-mating strain of An. maculatus. Using this simple, relatively inexpensive method of mass colonization adds to the short list of acceptable laboratory populations used in the routine production of human-infecting plasmodia.
Insights
Researchers successfully established a continuous laboratory colony of the malaria vector Anopheles maculatus. This breakthrough simplifies the mass rearing of mosquitoes for malaria research.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Medical Parasitology
- Vector Biology
Background:
- Anopheles maculatus is a significant malaria vector in Central Java.
- Establishing laboratory colonies of disease vectors is crucial for research.
- Previous continuous colonization of An. maculatus has not been reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the routine colonization of Anopheles maculatus in a laboratory setting.
- To establish a free-mating, long-lived An. maculatus strain for research purposes.
- To provide a simple and inexpensive method for mass colonization of this malaria vector.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized a free-mating strain of Anopheles maculatus.
- Mosquitoes were reared under controlled or natural environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting).
- A simple larval diet of dried beef and rice hulls was employed.
Main Results:
- Continuous colonization of Anopheles maculatus was successfully achieved.
- The established strain readily bloodfeeds on small rodents and artificial membranes.
- The rearing method proved adaptable to various laboratory conditions.
- The larval diet of dried beef and rice hulls was found to be acceptable.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first continuous colonization of a free-mating strain of Anopheles maculatus.
- The developed method is simple, inexpensive, and suitable for mass colonization.
- This accessible laboratory population will aid in the routine production of human-infecting plasmodia.
- The findings contribute to the limited list of suitable laboratory mosquito populations for malaria research.
