H. Briegel et al., Reproductive physiology of Aedes (Aedimorphus) vexans (Diptera : Culicidae) in relation to flight potential, J MED ENT, 38(4), 2001, pp. 557-565
Total protein, lipid, and glycogen of Aedes vexans (Meigen) were related li
nearly to body size at eclosion. Starvation after emergence led to the dete
rmination of minimal irreducible amounts of protein, lipid, and glycogen an
d the availability of the teneral reserves, whereas access to sucrose revea
led the potential for reserve synthesis. Glycogenesis and lipogenesis incre
ased reserves approximate to 10-fold the teneral value within 1 and 2 wk af
ter emergence, respectively. Carbohydrate feeding was an essential behavior
before blood feeding and oogenesis commenced. Female night was tested on a
flight mill. Maximal flights of 10-17 km in a single night occurred at 2 w
k posteclosion and paralleled maximal reserve syntheses. Comparisons of our
laboratory data to host-seeking mosquitoes in the field confirmed our data
. The vast majority of maternal lipid was transfer red to the yolk when a b
lood. meal was taken, but only a quarter of the blood protein was recovered
fi om mature ovaries. Maternal glycogen was used mainly for flight. Fecund
ity varied between 20 and 120 eggs per female and was determined largely by
body size and blood meal volume. At 27 degreesC, maximal egg numbers were
produced, but at 22 and 17 degreesC the caloric yolk content was greater. F
emales from the southern United. States were smaller than females from nort
hern areas. However, southern females had similar fecundity as northern fem
ales, and their flight performances were similar. Differences in tile repro
ductive physiology between this species and Ac, aegypti were discussed.