Effect of temperature and larval density on Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) laboratory rearing productivity and male characteristics

The effect of larval density and temperature on the life-table parameters of Aedes polynesiensis was examined allowing the development of a suitable rearing protocol for the sterile insect technique. •The effect of rearing variables on Ae. polynesiensis was examined.•Rearing conditions with high male yield and no female contamination were identified.•Males produced under these conditions displayed adequate indicators of performance.•Ae. polynesiensis appears well suited for biological and mechanical sex separation.•Our study offers good prospects for Ae. polynesiensis population suppression trials. Aedes polynesiensis Marks (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae were reared to adulthood in the laboratory under a range of temperatures and larval densities. We studied the effect of these variables on several life table parameters of relevance to male-release-based vector control strategies including: larval survivorship, developmental time to pupation, male to female ratio, male pupae yield, adult male size and survival. The range of tested rearing temperatures (20, 25, 27, and 30°C) and larval densities (50, 100, 200, and 400larvae/L) was selected within the conditions allowing larval growth and survival. Larval survivorship was the highest when larvae were reared at 200larvae/L for all temperatures except 20°C. Male to female ratio was male biased at all temperatures and densities. Time to pupation decreased with increasing temperatures. Larval density and temperature influenced the proportion of males pupating on first day of pupation with 43–47% of total male pupae produced at 25°C. No significant differences in mean wing length were observed between male mosquitoes reared in the laboratory (except at 20 and 30°C for some densities) and field collected males. Altogether, the study allowed the identification of rearing conditions delivering high male yield with essentially no female contamination, adequate adult male size and survival. Ae. polynesiensis thus appears particularly amenable to biological and mechanical sex separation offering good prospects for Ae. polynesiensis population suppression trials that rely on the production and release of large numbers of incompatible or sterile males.