ENDOGENOUS REGULATION OF THE ATTRACTION OF AEDES-AEGYPTI MOSQUITOS

Even when host attractants are present, there are times when endogenou s physiological mechanisms prevent female mosquitoes from responding t o them and engaging in host-seeking behavior. These times include a br ief postemergence period, periods of the day determined by a circadian clock, and following a blood meal before and after eggs develop, whic h are controlled by nervous and humoral mechanisms. Other factors such as age, nutrition, and mating status can further modulate host-seekin g behavior. The interplay of these factors affects the frequency at wh ich mosquitoes will approach a host and feed on its blood, thus affect ing the rates of parasite acquisition and transmission.