FEEDING AND OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR IN THE MOSQUITO AEDES AEGYPTI (L.). I. PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF PHYSIOLOGICAL CONTROL MECHANISMS

¹ Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California 95616

1. When female Aedes aegypti were given a daily opportunity to take a blood meal over a 9-day period, the number of mated females feeding on days 3, 6, and 9 was significantly less than the number of virgins feeding. This low period of feeding coincides with the terminal phases of the first, second, and third gonotrophic cycles, respectively.

2. The "mated" feeding pattern could be established in a virgin female by the implantation of a male accessory gland. Copulation without semen transfer or the implantation of a testis was ineffective in inducing the pattern of biting.

3. Functional ovaries in the female receiving the accessory gland implant are required in order for the implant to exert its effect. Implantation of a normal ovary plus an accessory gland into females lacking ovaries produced the mated biting pattern.

4. The material from the male accessory gland also controls oviposition behavior by female mosquitoes. Mated females lay their eggs readily on completion of oogenesis. Virgins mature an equal number of eggs but retain rather than deposit them. Implantation of male accessory gland into virgin females causes them to oviposit on maturation of their eggs.

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