Feeding behaviour and host preferences of British mosquitoes

Abstract

The arrival of mosquitoes at human bait under natural conditions could be divided into three behavioural phases, the exploratory, the penetration and feeding periods. The duration of these periods was recorded in Mansonia richiardii (Fie), Anopheles plumbeus Steph., Aedes punctor (Kby.), Ae. detritus (Hal.), Ae. cinereus Mg. and Ae. cantans (Mg.). Adults of M. richiardii took the longest (about 4 min) and those of Ae. cinereus the shortest (about 2 min) time to obtain a blood-meal. Penetration by the mosquitoes' mouthparts was felt in about 17% of the feeds, and irritation was caused by about 18% of the mosquitoes during feeding. The natural host preferences of these, and 11 other species, were determined by precipitin tests on blood engorged mosquitoes. Adults of Culex pipiens L., C. torrentium Mart, Culiseta morsitans (Theo.) and C. litorea (Shute) were essentially avian feeders; three adults of the latter two species had also fed on unidentified reptiles. Most adults of the other species had fed mainly on mammals. There were few multiple feeds. Although the ability of a mosquito to take a blood-meal quickly from a host was recognised as important, other phenomena such as uninterrupted feeding, simultaneous feeding by large numbers of mosquitoes and host desensitisation to bites were also considered important in contributing to the success or failure of a mosquito in obtaining a blood-meal.