Aug 12, 2024

Public workspaceDesign and validation of a low-cost sugar-feeder for resource-poor insectaries.

DOI
dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.14egnzrbmg5d/v1
  • 1Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine;
  • 2University of Notre Dame
  • Acosta Serrano Group
Zachary Thomas Stavrou - Dowd
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DOI: dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.14egnzrbmg5d/v1
Protocol Citation: Zachary Thomas Stavrou - Dowd, Clair Rose, Alvaro Acosta Serrano, Lee R Haines 2024. Design and validation of a low-cost sugar-feeder for resource-poor insectaries.. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.14egnzrbmg5d/v1
Manuscript citation:
Stavrou-Dowd et al., 2024. Design and validation of a low-cost sugar-feeder for resource-poor insectaries.
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: June 11, 2021
Last Modified: August 12, 2024
Protocol Integer ID: 50699
Keywords: ATSB, Malaria, Sugar Feeding, Anopheles, Mosquito, Vector Control, Sugar Baits, viable dyes
Funders Acknowledgements:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Grant ID: INV-022192
Jean Clayton Fund - Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Grant ID: JC0621CR02
Abstract
Background
The emergence of insecticide resistance in insects has led researchers to develop new control tools so that historic gains made in reducing disease transmission are not lost. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) are a vector control tool being widely trialled to target insects that feed on plant sugars and blood. We designed a field-friendly, economical and more environmentally responsible sugar feeder for maintaining mosquito colonies and screening potential ATSB candidates.
Methods
We simultaneously tested, in both male and female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the effect of adding three water-soluble medical and food dyes (Allura Red, fluorescein and tartrazine) to the sugar solution to identify those insects that had ingested sugar from the feeder. To test feeder efficacy to deliver a toxic substance, we assessed the killing using boric acid, which kills both male and female mosquitoes when ingested. Using microscopy techniques compatible with fieldwork, including the use of a mobile phone camera, we documented the efficacy and tissue specificity of the dyes on mosquitoes after they were continuously fed dyed sugar solutions. 
Results
The easy-to-construct sugar feeder is an economical option for testing the efficacy of ATSB components on Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Allura Red AC was the preferred dye as it has low toxicity to mosquitoes and allows the researcher to quickly visualise the imbibed sugar meal within the abdomen. Feeding 1% fluorescein dye, but not 0.1%, for longer than five days induced systemic dye distribution, where the mosquito’s wing veins, antennae and legs brightly fluoresced when examined by a handheld black light torch (395-400nm emission).
Discussion
Developing an affordable sugar feeder to maintain insectary-reared insects and test the efficacy of ATSB candidates involves designing a dye-labelled sugar bait station that is of low-toxicity, reusable and easy to construct using components available in low resource settings such as field stations.
Image Attribution
Lee R. Haines
Materials
Suppliers are those used within the study. Please use alternative supplier if required.

Sugar Feeder Construction

Equipment
Surgical Tape
NAME
Masking Tape
TYPE
3M
BRAND
None
SKU
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Micropore-Surgical-Tape-White-1-25cm/dp/B0009Q01E0
LINK

Equipment
Rubber Band
NAME
Rubber Band
TYPE
Rubber Band
BRAND
9340007
SKU
https://www.staples.co.uk/office-supplies-and-stationery/office-basics-and-stationery/office-clips-and-fasteners/rubber-bands/size-33-rubber-bands-pk-454g-9340007/
LINK
Size 33 87 x 2mm
SPECIFICATIONS

Equipment
Paper Clip
NAME
Paper Clip
TYPE
Paper Clip
BRAND
567-8618
SKU
https://www.staples.co.uk/office-supplies-and-stationery/office-basics-and-stationery/office-clips-and-fasteners/paper-clips/paperclips-plain-51mm-pk1000-33281/
LINK
Plain 51mm
SPECIFICATIONS

Equipment
Tights
NAME
Tights
TYPE
Tights
BRAND
None
SKU
https://direct.asda.com/george/women/socks-tights/brown-sheer-15-denier-tights-5-pack/GEM747177,default,pd.html?cgid=D1M1G20C14&placement_id=item_page.pdp1&strategy=bab_v2&config_id=item_page.pdp1&parent_item_id=GEM831629&product_id=GEM747177&slotClicked=
LINK
15 Denier
SPECIFICATIONS

Equipment
Glass Bijou
NAME
Tube
TYPE
Murray and Co Ltd
BRAND
215-3568
SKU
https://uk.vwr.com/store/product/18618073/bottles-glass-bijou-type-sterilin
LINK
7ml
SPECIFICATIONS

Equipment
7.0 ml Polystyrene Bijou Container
NAME
Tube
TYPE
StarLab
BRAND
E1412-0711
SKU
https://www.starlabgroup.com/GB-en/product/7.0-ml-bijou-containers-sterile-pf-sl-155250.html
LINK
50 mm high x 23 mm diameter (including cap)
SPECIFICATIONS

ABCDEFG
Material£ Cost/package# items /package or amount of package estimated for a single feeder (tights and tape)£ cost/itemLinkCat  numberCompany
Glass bijou (7ml, Murray and Co  Ltd)33.502450.1367https://uk.vwr.com/store/product/18618073/bottles-glass-bijou-type-sterilin215-3568VWR
Plastic bijou (7 ml polystyrene screw cap)98.007000.1400https://www.alphalabs.co.uk/129202129202Alpha
Rubber band (Size 33 87 x 2mm)1.988750.0023https://www.staples.co.uk/office-supplies-and-stationery/office-basics-and-stationery/office-clips-and-fasteners/rubber-bands/size-33-rubber-bands-pk-454g-9340007/9340007Staples
Paper clip (Plain 51mm)12.2610000.0123https://www.staples.co.uk/office-supplies-and-stationery/office-basics-and-stationery/office-clips-and-fasteners/paper-clips/paperclips-plain-51mm-pk1000-33281/567-8618Staples
Tights (15 denier)2.505000.0050https://direct.asda.com/george/women/socks-tights/brown-sheer-15-denier-tights-5-pack/GEM747177,default,pd.html?cgid=D1M1G20C14&placement_id=item_page.pdp1&strategy=bab_v2&config_id=item_page.pdp1&parent_item_id=GEM831629&product_id=GEM747177&slotClicked=1noneAsda
Tape (3M surgical tape, Micropore)9.292400.0387https://www.amazon.co.uk/Micropore-Surgical-Tape-White-1-25cm/dp/B0009Q01E0noneAmazon
Cost per feeder
Glass 0.1950
Plastic0.1982
*glass or plastic costs the same - £0.20


Dyes used for detection of sugar feeding

  1. ReagentAllura Red ACSigma – AldrichCatalog #458848-100G
  2. ReagentTartrazineAlfa AesarCatalog #A17682
  3. ReagentFluorescein Sodium SaltHoneywell FlukaCatalog #28803



Safety warnings
When using dyes follow manufacturers SDS and local and national guidelines.

Before start
Watch video of method

Video

Collect materials required for construction of feeder. See "Materials"

Step case

Field Friendly Sugar Feeder
7 steps

This sugar feeder is designed for field work conditions when resources are limited. It does not require access to any power tools and is set up using only five components.
Using either your hands or a pair of pliers, unravel the outer loop of a paperclip and twist it into a hanger.



Mould the outer loop around the bottom of the tube and leave the inner loop free to construct hanging hook



Tape down the paperclip around the tube using masking tape - 2 or 3 wraps is sufficient. If hanging outdoors, use waterproof tape.



Invert the feeder so the hook is now pointing to the floor and fill feeder with sugar solution. Adding an insect-safe dye allows sugar levels to be easily monitored.
Place a square of fabric tautly over the opening of the feeder and secure in place with an elastic band. Ensure the fabric used has been previously washed to avoid exposure to insecticides commonly sprayed on textiles during shipment and storage.
With thumb placed on top of fabric (to prevent fluid leakage) quickly but gently rotate feeder 180° so hanger is now top positioned.
Hang the sugar feeder inside a cage or wherever testing may be taking place