Rearing of larvae and adults of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors of malaria and arboviruses in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil: substitution of blood feeding and environmental enrichment.

Objectives

This project aimed at:

1. improving the rearing of immature and adult mosquitoes, seeking to increase the production of larvae and adults for general experimentation, as well as for colonization;
2. reducing the current workload for breeding maintenance through environmental enrichment  in addition to increasing insect production with diets and supplementation; and
3. minimizing ethical problems and biological risk in handling blood through breeding, vector, diet, environmental enrichment, and the creation of a substitute diet for blood in mosquito reproduction.