Seasonal and Circadian Dynamics
Blood feeding in mosquitoes follows a species-specific circadian rhythm, with three main patterns:
- nocturnal with feeding occurring at night –probably most species belong to this group, e.g. some Aedes species and Mansonia africana;
- diurnal, if feeding occurs largely during daylight hours, e.g. Aedes apicoargenteus and Aedes longipalpis;
- crepuscular, if feeding occurs largely during twilight hours, at dusk or at dawn, e.g. Aedes africanus and Anopheles gambiae (Goma, 1966).
Host Seeking Behaviour
Two main determinant complexes influence mosquito host location:
- endogenous determinants such as genetic make-up, age, mating condition, gonotrophic status, nutritional status and circadian rhythm of the female mosquito; and
- exogenous determinants, defined by the host and the environment like availability and enamations of the host
The mosquito host-finding can be divided into successive phases: activation, oriented flight to the host, alighting on the host, probing, ingestion, withdrawal, and take-off (Mehlhorn, 2001). The oriented flight is regulated by anemotaxis. Movements of the host are registered by optomotor responses and emanations are noticed. Depending on the species, exhaled air, with carbon dioxide as the most stimulating component, or particular skin emanations are registered. Long distance (up to 70 m) is achieved by odour cues, CO2 attracts over distances of about 20 m, and heat and humidity additionally cover a distance of 1-2 m. Besides CO2, many other chemicals have proven attractive potential.
References
Introduction
Gordon RM, Lumsden WHR: A study of the behaviour of the mouthparts of mosquitoes when taking up blood from living tissue; together with some observations on the ingestion of microfilariae. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1939, 33, 259-78
Macdonald G: The epidemiology and control of malaria. 1957, Oxford University Press, London
Mehlhorn H: Mosquitoes. In: Mehlhorn H (ed.): Encyclopaedic reference of parasitology. Biology, structure, function. 2nd edn., 2001, Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 378-84
Seasonal and Circadian Dynamics
Goma LKH: The mosquito. 1966, Hutchinson Tropical Monographs, Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) LTD, London
Host Seeking Behaviour
Mehlhorn H: Mosquitoes. In: Mehlhorn H (ed.): Encyclopaedic reference of parasitology. Biology, structure, function. 2nd edn., 2001, Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 378-84
