Abstract
As global climate change threatens to increase the livable boundaries of vectors, the need for new and better mosquito control arises to help suppress and eradicate vector-borne diseases. Previously, population control using insecticides has been less than effective due to the occurrence of population resistance to the chemicals, failure to implement at all life stages of the vector, and health side effects on the human populations. This study was undertaken to determine whether erythritol treatment of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes significantly affected organismal development, viability, and behavior. Erythritol was tested on different developmental stages and on adult mating behaviors. At the concentration of 0.06M erythritol significantly decreased mosquito survival at the time of adult emergence. However, at a lower erythritol concentration of 0.025M, there was no significant effect on adult survival, mating, and blood-feeding behaviors. We found no significant effect of different concentrations of erythritol on egg hatching. Overall, this study suggests that erythritol could be a feasible larvacide, pending better research and understanding of its overall mechanism.
Advisor
Sirot, Laura
Second Advisor
Kelly, Seth
Department
Biology
Recommended Citation
Krossman, Mariah A., "The Sweet Death of Mosquitoes: A Study of the Lethal and Sub-lethal Effects of the Sweetener, Erythritol, on Aedes Aegypti Mosquito." (2017). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11794.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11794
Publication Date
2017
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2017 Mariah A. Krossman