Table 4.

Comparison of mosquito preservation methods

Storage method	Comparison to fresh insects*	Accuracy of classifying as young (< 7 d) or old (≥ 7 d) (%)	Avg. 95% confidence interval (days)	Preservation cost per 1.5 mL vial†	Suitability for field use	Health hazards	Suitability for DNA extraction‡	Suitability for dissection§
Fresh	–	88.6	1.14	None	Must scan immediately	None	Good	Good
Drierite	No significant difference	80.9	1.15	$0.01	Must keep activated	Minimal	Fair-Good	Poor-Good
Silica gel	No significant difference	84.1	1.16	$0.01	Must keep activated	Minimal	Fair-Good	Poor-Good
RNAlater	No significant difference	77.8	1.33	$1.00	Must keep submerged	Minimal	Excellent	Good
Ethanol	Significantly different	73.0	1.36	$0.01	OK	Low	Fair-Good	Poor-Fair
Carnoy	Significantly different	80.9	1.29	$0.15	OK	Significant	Poor	Fair
Refrigerated	No significant difference	81.5	1.15	$0.01	Must keep cool	None	Good	Good

^*Age predictions from preserved mosquitoes were significantly, or not significantly, different from predictions from fresh insects at P = 0.01.

^†From 1 to ∼50 mosquitoes can be placed in each vial.

^§As reported by Bisanti and others,¹¹ Quicke and others,¹² Nagy,¹³ and Mandrioli and others.¹⁴