SUGAR DEPRIVATION IN ADULT AEDES BAHAMENSIS FEMALES AND ITS EFFECTS ON HOST-SEEKING AND LONGEVITY

The effects of sugar deprivation on host-seeking and longevity in matu re Aedes bahamensis depend on gonotrophic condition. Autogenous gravid females were more susceptible to sugar deprivation than either autoge nous parous or anautogenous nulliparous females. They used up immediat e energy reserves quickly and were unable to accumulate long-term rese rves while developing eggs or while gravid. In contrast, anautogenous nulliparous females were able to accumulate long-term reserves over ti me and this allowed them to survive subsequent sugar deprivation longe r than autogenous gravid females. Sugar feeding was associated with lo wer host-seeking frequencies in both autogenous gravid and anautogenou s nulliparous females but not in autogenous parous females.