A Study of the Probing Response of Aedes aegypti Effect of Nutrition on Probing12

Abstract

The probing response of females of the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.), was studied with respect to the human forearm and an artificial target (moist surface at 34°C) using females in different nutritional states. A highly significant (P<.005) difference was found in attraction between the living and the artificial target, as well as in the response among mosquito groups in different nutlitional states. No significant difference was observed in the probing response of mosquitoes from hour to hour for 6 hr water-starved mosquitoes probed on the artificial target as avidly as they did on the human forearm but the mosquitoes which had sugar water available continuously probed avidly on the skin and poorly on the artificial target. It is recommended that mosquitoes constantly supplied with 5% sugar solution be used for critical experiments on biting or probing.