Abstract
We have successfully established laboratory colonies of Toxorhynchites towadensis, Tx. undescribed sp. (Okinawa), and Tx. manicatus yaeyamae. The first 2 species, mated in a large cage (60×60×75cm) covered by a black polyvinyl sheet with a small window at the top. Females and males of these species often flew towards the light entering through the window, and this increased the chance of mating. With a slight modification of the methods used for anopheline mosquitoes, however, artificial mating was employed for Tx. m. yaeyamae, and also for Tx. sp. (Okinawa) when natural mating was insufficient. When the mating was successful, enough eggs were obtained to sustain the colony even in a smaller cage (20×30×20cm). The average duration from egg hatch to adult emergence was 19-20 days for these Toxorhynchites species.
