Age-dependent bloodfeeding of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus on artificial and living hosts

Abstract

In order to quantify age-dependent acquisition of a bloodmeal, we compared bloodfeeding patterns of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus starting from the time of first responsiveness to a bloodmeal up to 15 days postemergence. In separate experiments, cohorts of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus of known age were offered their first bloodmeal from a silicon-membrane system or a restrained chicken. For cohorts ranging from 3 to 15 days old, the proportions feeding were significantly affected by species, age, feeding protocol, and the age x feeding protocol interaction. For both feeding protocols, a higher proportion of Ae. aegypti than Ae. albopictus, on average, consumed blood. Regressions of proportion feeding versus age indicated significantly positive slopes for Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti on the membrane system, and no significant relationship was observed for either species on the restrained chicken. Additionally, slopes for Aedes, as a group, fed on the membrane system were significantly different from those fed on the living host. For both Aedes species fed on the restrained chicken and for Ae. aegypti fed on the membrane system, the proportions feeding exhibited periodic patterns, with peaks approximately 2 days apart, suggesting possible control by endogenous rhythms.