The Nutrition of the Larva of Aedes Aegypti L. I

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Abstract
1. A technique for investigating the nutritional requirements of the larva of Aedes aegypti, under sterile conditions, is described. A method for more accurate recording and interpretation of results is presented. 2. First-stage larvae may be kept in agglutinating broth for periods up to 96 hr. without affecting their subsequent growth in suitable media. 3. A suspension of autoclaved brewer's yeast in calcium chloride solution supports growth and metamorphosis of the larvae. The addition of filtered liver extract greatly improves the growth and survival rates. Further addition of a mixture of vitamins of the B group brings about no corresponding further improvement; neither does replacement of the liver extract by papaic liver digest with or without the vitamin mixture. 4. Storage of dried brewer's yeast for a long period, or of autoclaved fresh brewer's yeast for a shorter period, has a marked adverse effect on the growth rate when these yeasts are combined with liver extract or vitamin mixture. A similar effect is brought about by prologned autoclaving of the yeasts. 5. In all these media liver extract may be repalced by the mixture of B vitamins. It was not found possible, however, to replace the solid yeast fraction of the medium by any combination of substances so far investigated. 6. The time taken for the change from pupa to adult is independent of the medium in which the larva was grown. 7. There is a factor which causes the emergence of vigorous adults in nature or in contaminated media. This factor has been found to be largely absent from our best media such as brewer's yeast and liver.