CHANGES IN HORN FLY HAEMATOBIA-IRRITANS (L) (DIPTERA, MUSCIDNE) TRANSLATABLE RNA ASSOCIATED WITH FEEDING AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE

Poly(A) RNA was purified from mature adult, larval and pupal stages of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), and newly emerged adult flies which had been fed citrated bovine blood for 0, 20 and 60 min or a bu ffered saline solution for 20 min. These RNAs were characterized by in vitro translation and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, fluorog raphy and autoradiography. Several RNA in vitro translation products w ere detected which appear to be stage-specific while others are possib ly regulated by gut enlargement following feeding. These putative feed ing-induced RNAs, some of which respond within 20 min of engorging on the first blood meal, may be transcribed from genes responding to feed ing-induced gut distension changes.