Gut Content Analysis of Mosquito Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) Using Dapi Stain and Epifluorescence Microscopy

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Abstract
A method using 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stain and epifluorescence microscopy for analyzing the food ingested by mosquito larvae is described. When stained with DAPI, food items (organic detritus, bacteria, algae, and protozoans) can be identified by fluorescence, color, and shape. Bacteria appear blue and protozoans light blue with a distinct nucleus, organic detritus autofluoresces dull yellow, chlorophyll in algae appears dull red, and algal nuclei are blue. This method revealed qualitative and quantitative differences in gut contents among fourth instars of Aedes triseriatus (Say), Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, and Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker). The method is applicable to gut content analysis of other filter-feeding arthropods.

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