Age-Dependent Survival of the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Demonstrated by Simultaneous Release-Recapture of Different Age Cohorts

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 307 - 313
• Main Authors: Harrington, L.C, Francoisevermeylen, Jones, J.J, Kitthawee, S, Sithiprasasna, R, Edman, J.D, Scott, T.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Aedes - physiology; Aedes aegypti; age; Age Factors; Animals; Body Size - physiology; cohort studies; dry season; Female; insect vectors; Male; mark-recapture studies; mortality; Population Dynamics; synthetic cohorts; wet season; Thailand
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585%282008%2945%5B307%3AASOTDV%5D2.0.CO%3B2

The assumption that mosquito survival remains constant and that it is independent of age was tested with free-ranging Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) by using a “synthetic cohort” mark-release-recapture method. Mosquito age cohorts (1-2, 3-4, and 19-20 d) were released simultaneously in homes in rural Thai villages during dry and rainy seasons (2002). Significant age-dependent effects were detected during the dry and rainy seasons. More young than older mosquitoes were recaptured (1-4 versus 5-20 d). The best predictive fit for recaptures was obtained using a quadratic function of age. Our results provide the first field-based evidence for age-dependent Ae. aegypti mortality in which the death rate increases with advancing age and highlight the need for research on ecological and epidemiological aspects of this process.