Spectrofluorometers are not adequate for aging Aedes and Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) using pteridine fluorescence.

Attempts were made to use pteridine fluorescence levels as a tool for aging individual Aedes polynesiensis Marks and Culex quinquefasciatus Say mosquitoes. Fluorescent pigments were extracted and quantified with techniques and apparatus (i.e.

[Fluctuations affecting the measurement of microfilaremia (author's transl)].

A statistical analysis was conducted, in order to compare the variations in values of a) blood samples obtained with several finger-pricks from the same individual in a short period of time, and b) blood samples obtained from the same finger-puncture. No significant difference was observed: both groups seem to follow a negative binomial distribution, the exponent of which is not dependent on the microfilarial count average. This common exponent is roughly equal to the volume of the blood sample, expressed in cmm.