Rearing and shipping of Uranotaenia lowii, a frog biting mosquito

Authors: SINGH, RICHA - Purdue University; Sanscrainte, Neil; Estep Iii, Alden; GONZÁLEZ, K - Purdue University; BERNAL, XIMENA - Purdue University

Submitted to: Bio-protocol
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2024
Publication Date: 6/5/2024
Citation: Singh, R., Sanscrainte, N.D., Estep Iii, A.S., González, K., Bernal, X. 2024. Rearing and shipping of Uranotaenia lowii, a frog biting mosquito. Bio-protocol. 14(11). https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4996.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4996

Interpretive Summary: Little is known about the biology and ecological impact of mosquitoes, like Uranotaenia lowii, that feed only on amphibians rather than mammals or birds. Detailed studies of this species is extremely difficult without an established laboratory colony. To alleviate this problem, we provide a protocol for maintaining a colony of Uranotaenia lowii, a mosquito that feeds on frogs and toads. This will allow for the production of large numbers of mosquitoes and the ability to perform research on all life stages. Details on shipping viable Ur. lowii eggs are also provided.

Technical Abstract: An essential component in the comprehensive study of mosquitoes involves sustaining laboratory populations that allow experimental manipulations. Mosquito colonization enables in-depth exploration of life history traits, toxologic response, behavior, and the physiological mechanisms underlying them. Establishing and maintaining robust, standardized mosquito colonies requires the development and application of well-established protocols as well as an understanding of the key factors influencing mosquito fitness in captivity. Colonization of mosquitoes of medical importance such as Aedes and Culex species has, for instance, accelerated the rate of understanding of the biology of these anthropophilic species. Recent interest in mosquitoes that feed on non-human hosts has increased due to the increased recognition of the implications that mosquitoes feeding on non-human hosts can have in the ecosystem. Until now, however, little is known regarding the rearing techniques and successful establishment of laboratory populations of mosquitoes with non-human hosts. Among those, mosquitoes that feed on frogs provide a valuable opportunity to understand the evolutionary ecology of Culicidae, as this family has recently been proposed to have originated from a frog-feeding ancestor. While some mosquitoes are generalists and opportunistically feed on frogs as well as other hosts, other mosquitoes are specialized in feeding exclusively from anurans. The use of host-emitted acoustic signals such as the mating calls of frogs is, for instance, an adaptation that has evolved independently multiple times across flies and mosquitoes to detect and localize anuran hosts. Among such frog-biting mosquitoes, Uranotaenia lowii is characterized by its preference for anuran hosts and the use of auditory cues to locate them. Here, we present a standard protocol for the rearing of Ur. lowii mosquitoes and maintenance of the mosquito colony. To date, no detailed documented studies have outlined protocols for maintaining laboratory colonies for Ur. lowii. We also include a protocol for effectively shipping Ur. lowii specimens to promote specimen exchange and sharing between research groups.