SEROTONIN DEPLETION AFFECTS BLOOD-FEEDING BUT NOT HOST-SEEKING ABILITY IN AEDES-TRISERIATUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

The host-seeking and blood-feeding abilities of Aedes triseriatus (Say ) were evaluated after treatment with the amine depleting drugs alpha- methyl-tyrosine (AMT) and alpha-methyl-tryptophan (AMTP). High-perform ance liquid chromatography with el chemical detection (HPLCED) was use d to demonstrate that AMTP depleted serotonin levels, whereas AMT redu ced dopamine levels. The host-seeking ability (evaluated with an olfac tometer) of Ae. triseriatus was not altered by treatment with either A MT or AMTP. Blood-feeding success was reduced significantly by either oral administration or injection of AMTP. Mosquitoes treated with AMTP responded positively when placed in close proximity to a host (rabbit ), but fewer treated than untreated mosquitoes fed to repletion or fed at all. Those feeding to repletion took longer to do so. No differenc es in feeding ability were observed between control and AMT-treated mo squitoes. These observations indicate that serotonin plays a role in m odulating blood-feeding activities of Ae. triseriatus.