The role of oxygen depletion and subsequent radioprotective effects during irradiation of mosquito pupae in water

Abstract

The consumption of dissolved oxygen by pupae submerged in water was significantly different between species, indicating that their oxy-regulatory capacity seems to have possibly evolved according to their preferred breeding site characteristics. This needs to be considered when sterilizing male mosquitoes at pupal stage in water. Depending on species, their DO consumption rates and their density, irradiation doses needed to achieve full sterility may vary significantly. Further assessments are required to ascertain optimal conditions in terms of ambient atmosphere during pupal irradiation to produce competitive sterile males, and temperature and density dependent effects are expected.