Effects of Triethylenemelamine (Tem) as a Pupal Dip to Sterilize Male Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)1

Abstract

The effects of different concentrations of a trifunctional alkylating agent, triethylenemelamine (TEM), on the pupal stage in the development of the ROCK strain of Aedes aegypti were tested. Male pupae were treated with 0.025%, 0.050%,0.075% and 0.10% of the chemomutagen. Subsequently, control and viable adults derived from the treated pupae were crossed with nontreated virgin females. Egg production, percentage hatchability, and productivity in the F1 generation over a 3-week test period were employed to measure the developmental effects. Treatment with TEM did not significantly reduce egg production. Except for the 0.075%-treated group, all other experimentals showed a decrease in percentage hatchability. The 0.10%-treated group gave a 16% decrease in hatch, whereas the 0.050%-treated experimental group showed a 12% reduction when compared to the controls. Significant reductions in total F1 progeny were also demonstrated for all concentrations of TEM. Total mean productivity for the control group was 186.47, The 0.025%-, 0.050%-,0.075%-, and 0.10%-treated TEM groups gave means of 112.87, 122.27, 111.57, and 116.50, respectively. A comparison of the experimental and control weekly means showed that the important differences in productivity occurred during the 2nd week.