MATING AND NUTRITIONAL STATE AFFECT THE REPRODUCTION OF AEDES-ALBOPICTUS MOSQUITOS

Mated female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that were maintained after em ergence without carbohydrate were more likely to develop eggs after a small blood meal than were unmated females maintained on the same diet . The effect was due to male accessory gland substances transferred to the female during mating. Neither the endogenous reserves of protein and lipid nor the number of eggs developed per volume of ingested bloo d differed between mated and unmated females, suggesting that the util ization of existing reserves was altered by mating. Methoprene adminis tered to both mated and unmated females that ingested small blood meal s reduced the likelihood that egg development would occur. Small volum es of blood were more likely to trigger oogenesis in both mated and un mated females if their abdomens were additionally distended.