The Rate of Digestion of Blood Meals of various haematophagous Arthropods as determined by the Precipitin Test

Abstract

The period of digestion of the blood meal of 10 different blood-sucking arthropods which had been artificially and naturally fed on known hosts was studied by means of specific precipitin tests.A large proportion of positive feed (80–100 per cent.) was found with midges and mosquitos up to 24 hours, whether naturally (Anopheles aquasalis) or artificially fed (A. maculipennis atroparvus, Culex molestus, Culicoides nubeculosus, Aëdes aegypti).Tsetse flies showed greater differences between the rate of digestion of captive flies (Glossina morsitans), which showed 90–100 per cent. positive feeds at 3 days after the experimental blood meal, and wild flies (G. swynnertoni) which showed only 28 per cent. positive meals after a similar period of digestion. Arachnids showed both the longest period of digestion, more than 6 months for Ornithodoros moubata and also the shortest period as represented by Bdellonyssus bacoti (about 1 day).Cimex lectularius showed 90 per cent. positive feeds after 10 days.