Digital image analysis to estimate numbers of aedes eggs oviposited in containers

James W. Mains, David R. Mercer, Stephen L. Dobson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Monitoring reproductive rates in experiments involving aedine mosquitoes is tedious and time demanding. Here, we demonstrate a protocol for rapid estimation of aedine mosquito egg number. The protocol uses ImageJ, a publicly available image analysis program developed at the US National Institutes of Health. The method relies upon the oviposition behavior of Aedes (i.e., ovipositing on a moist substrate instead of water surface) and upon the contrast between dark-colored aedine eggs and a light, uniformly colored paper that is used as an oviposition substrate. The results for 3 Aedes species show that, following the generation of separate calibration curves for each species, the protocol allows for the accurate and repeatable estimation of samples containing hundreds of aedine eggs. We discuss the use of the protocol for monitoring immature aedine populations in both laboratory and field applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)496-501
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Digital imagery
  • Egg number
  • Eggs
  • Fecundity
  • ImageJ
  • Mosquito

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Insect Science

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