Blood-feeding and Capacity for Increase in the Pitcher-plant Mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii

Abstract

Northern Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett) (Diptera: Culicidae) are obligatorily autogenous; southern W. smithii , although capable of autogenous development, may consume a blood meal. The clutch of eggs resulting from a blood meal contributes little to capacity for increase. Capacity for increase is inversely correlated with mean crowding of the overwintering population. These results suggest that the principal role of hematophagy in W. smithii relates to increasing the contribution to total reproductive effort made by the 2nd and subsequent ovarian cycles.