Dietary Influences on the Longevity and Reproductive Success of Anopheles aquasalis in Laboratory Studies: Sucrose vs. Honey

Malaria continues to be a major public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions. <i>Anopheles aquasalis</i>, a key laboratory model for malaria research, plays a critical role in the study of vector-parasite interactions. Although vector life traits and environmental factors such as age and resource availability can influence the transmission potential of mosquitoes for <i>Plasmodium</i> parasites, the impact of different adult diets on their survival and reproductive fitness remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of sucrose and honey diets on the longevity, fertility, and fecundity of <i>Anopheles aquasalis</i> under controlled laboratory conditions. Our results demonstrate that the type of diet significantly affects mosquito survival and reproductive output. Specifically, mosquitoes consuming honey exhibited a substantially longer lifespan and higher fecundity compared to those fed on sucrose. Additionally, eggs laid by honey-fed females had notably higher hatching success rates than those from sucrose-fed females. These findings underscore the profound impact of dietary choices on the reproductive fitness of <i>Anopheles aquasalis</i>, with important implications for laboratory studies focusing on vector-parasite interactions. This study highlights the need for a careful consideration of diet in vector research to ensure accurate assessment of vector competence and disease transmission.