The importance of sugar as an energy source for female mosquitoes, to enhance survival and fecundity, is well established. However, some synanthropic and anthropophagic species appear to survive and reproduce effectively on a diet of human blood alone, being facultative sugar feeders. This suggests that blood meals are taken sufficiently frequently or are allocated so as to provide sufficient energy for non-vitellogenic activities while not compromising fitness. Whether woodland species also can do this if human or animal blood meals are readily available, or whether conversely they require sugar meals to survive and to maximize reproductive output, is unclear. We answered this question in Ochlerotatus triseriatus,the eastern tree-hole mosquito, under laboratory conditions. Inseminated females, caged either in groups or in isolation, were provided with continuous water, an oviposition site, and daily access to a human hand. Half of the females also had continuous access to 10% sucrose. Blood feeding, oviposition, and death were recorded daily. Results will be presented that demonstrate a significant effect of sugar on survival, blood-feeding frequency, and pattern of egg output.
Species 1: Diptera Culicidae Ochlerotatus triseriatus (eastern tree-hole mosquito)
Keywords: fitness
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