Blood meal size as a factor affecting continued host-seeking by Aedes aegypti (L.)
Klowden, M.J.; Lea, A.O.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 27(4): 827-831
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 686250 Document Number: 125408
The effect of ingested blood on the host-seeking response of two strains of Aedes aegypti (L.) was examined. Using an olfactometer, females taking partial blood-meals were scored for host-seeking behaviour within 1 h, and their blood-meal sizes were measured chemically immediately afterwards. The suppression of host-seeking within 1 h after a blood-meal appears to be caused by abdominal distention from ingested blood. Mosquitoes of either strain were attracted to a host when the blood-meal size was less than 2.5 mu l; above this threshold, there was a sharp decline in the tendency to respond. Small mosquitoes resulting from larvae fed a low diet had a lower threshold, and were more likely to cease host-seeking after a small blood-meal. Multiple feeding within a single gonotrophic cycle may result if mosquitoes take small blood-meals that are insufficient to terminate host-seeking. Partial meals and reduced feeding success of mosquitoes can result from defensive host behaviour, which in the laboratory rat was shown to increase at high mosquito densities.