Distention and sugar feeding induce autogenous egg development by the Asian tiger mosquito (Diptera:Culicidae).
Mechanisms initiating autogenous egg development were studied using a selected strain of Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), that required a sugar meal to develop eggs autogenously. Caloric intake and the abdominal distention produced by ingesting sucrose solutions were interrelated in their effects on autogeny. Distention of the abdomen with 2 microliters of saline, with no caloric intake, induced autogenous egg maturation in 66% of the females. Abdominal distention produced by 2 microliters of saline did not induce egg development if the ventral nerve cord was transected. However, eggs were produced when females ingested 200 micrograms of sucrose in 2 microliters of water following ventral nerve cord transection. A meal containing at least 100 micrograms of sucrose was required for egg development if abdominal distention was < 1 microliter. Mating influenced autogeny in only 10% of the population. Neither distention, caloric intake nor mating affected the number of eggs that matured.
Chambers
G M
GM
Division of Entomology, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844-2339, USA.
Klowden
M J
MJ
D000005:Abdomen; D000330:Aedes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009866:Oogenesis; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
D002241:Carbohydrates