Sugar-deprivation following a blood meal does not reduce yolk formation and fertility in Culex quinquefasciatus.
Adult Culex quinquefasciatus, maintained from emergence on sugar, were fed blood and then fed either sugar (control) or water (starving) for 7 days. Analysis of ovaries and egg rafts for protein, lipids and glycogen showed that only glycogen levels were diminished by starvation. Eggs from both control and starving females, however, were equally viable. Nonbloodfed starving females lived longer than bloodfed starving females. These results suggest that the blood meal maximizes fertility, not longevity.
Van Handel
E
E
IFAS-University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Vero Beach 32962.
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000032:analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013217:Starvation / Q000503:physiopathology
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D006003:Glycogen