Methods in Anopheles Research - MR4

Chapter 2 : Anopheles Laboratory Biology and Culture2.1 Behavior and Physiology of Anophelines in the LaboratoryPage 7 of 8Figure 2.1.14. Anophelesgambiae taking sugar mealfrom a tangerine. Female atbottom, center is drinking juice.Two males have beenattracted.Figure 2.1.15. Sugar-fedAnopheles farauti. Plant juicesare stored in the crop ratherthan the midgut. Differentspecies have been observed toingest 29-62% of their unfedweight in sugar. In many tests,certain types of sugar sourceshave been shown to beimportant in increasing the lifespan of females that arefrequently blood fed over thosewho were given only blood.BloodOnly females take blood meals. The blood is their resource for protein needed in ovary development.There is data that substantiates blood as also providing a source of energy since blood fed females havebeen shown to survive longer than females given only water. It is very common for a mosquito to take asmuch as 2-4 times their weight of blood in a single meal. Females can also excrete clear to reddish fluidwhile bloodfeeding in order to concentrate the protein as much as 2 fold (Figure 2.1.16), a process calleddiuresis.Mouthparts Used in FeedingMosquitoes have mouth parts conducive to taking up liquids. Females have more complex mouthpartsbecause they must probe flowers and pierce skin. The mouthparts vary among the types of mosquitoes,especially among those who have different necessary functions such as those that take blood mealsversus those that do not.