Bacteria Stimulate Hatching of Yellow Fever Mosquito Eggs
2011

Bacteria Help Aedes aegypti Mosquito Eggs Hatch

Sample size: 50 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Ponnusamy Loganathan, Böröczky Katalin, Wesson Dawn M., Schal Coby, Apperson Charles S.

Primary Institution: North Carolina State University

Hypothesis

Does a microbe-free plant infusion stimulate egg hatching in Aedes aegypti?

Conclusion

Bacteria or compounds secreted by bacteria, rather than just low dissolved oxygen levels, stimulate the hatching of Aedes aegypti eggs.

Supporting Evidence

  • 92.4% of eggs hatched in non-sterile infusion within 2 hours.
  • 95.2% of eggs hatched in a 24-hour old bacterial culture.
  • Only 4.0% of eggs hatched in sterile infusion.

Takeaway

Bacteria help mosquito eggs hatch, even when there's enough oxygen in the water.

Methodology

The study used non-sterile and sterile white oak leaf infusions and bacterial cultures to test egg hatching.

Limitations

The specific bacterial cues involved in hatching remain unidentified.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0024409

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