Analysis of nectar and honeydew feeding in Aedes and Ochlerotatus mosquitoes.
Most research has investigated floral nectar as a source of carbohydrates for mosquitoes and has ignored homopteran honeydew. We have assessed the prevalence of honeydew and nectar feeding in 7 species of mosquitoes collected from Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. In total, 403 individuals were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, with melezitose and stachyose as honeydew-indicator sugars. From the 403 individuals, 214 contained sugars, of which only 8.8% had the honeydew-indicating sugars. We conclude that female Aedes and Ochlerotatus mosquitoes in Algonquin Provincial Park seem to feed infrequently on honeydew.
Russell
Curtis B
CB
Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.
Hunter
Fiona E
FE
D000330:Aedes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D009033:Culicidae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D009864:Ontario; D018514:Plant Structures; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000032:analysis
D002241:Carbohydrates; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014312:Trisaccharides; C005695:stachyose; C005190:melezitose