Human skin temperature and mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) blood feeding rate

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 456
• Main Authors: Grossman, G L, Pappas, L G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.1991
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; aedes aegypti; Animals; body temperature; choix de la date; comportement alimentaire; computer software; consommation; consumo; consumption; Culicidae; eleccion de la epoca; Feeding Behavior; feeding habits; Female; genero humano; genre humain; habitos alimentarios; Humans; logiciel; mankind; programas de ordenador; Skin Temperature; temperatura del cuerpo; temperature corporelle; timing
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/28.3.456

The relationship between skin temperature and mosquito blood feeding behavior was examined in nine human subjects. A system implementing computer control of skin temperature was utilized during blood feeding sessions in which feeding behavior (preforaging, foraging, probing, feeding) was timed and compared at five successive skin temperatures 29.0 degrees-36.2 degrees C). Preforaging, foraging, and probing times were not significantly different at the skin temperatures examined. Average blood meal size (3.3 microliters) also did not differ at these skin temperatures, but the time of engorgement decreased from 249.3 s at 30.8 degrees C to 100.7 s at 36.2 degrees C. The decreased feeding time resulted in an increase in feeding rate from 1.1 microliter/min (29.0 degrees C) to 2.2 microliters/min (36.2 degrees C).