Diuresis in newly emerged, unfed mosquitoes. II. The basic pattern in relation to escape from the water, preparation for mature flight, mating and the first blood meal

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 1983-01, Vol.217 (1207), p.237-242
• Main Author: Gillett, J. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult insects; Adults; Aedes - physiology; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Blood; Diuresis; Eating; Eclosion; Excretion; Female animals; Flight, Animal; Mating behavior; Mosquitos; Pupae; Reproduction; Water-Electrolyte Balance
• ISSN: 0080-4649; 0962-8452; 0950-1193; 2053-9193; 1471-2954
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1983.0008

A study of 2000 newly emerged adult mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) shows that the rate of excretion is high at the time of eclosion but falls rapidly over the next few minutes. In both sexes, however, the high rate of excretion is regained during a second peak in the middle of day 1. It remains high for about 6 h and then falls in a remarkably steady manner to reach a low level plain, which persists at least till the end of day 3. In females this plain is not reached till some 8 h after the onset in males. This steady low level of activity, which is higher in females than in males, is here regarded as the basic rate of excretion. The rapid loss of fluid in the newly emerged adult enables the insect to make its first teneral flight, escaping from the surface of the water within minutes of eclosion. The second peak of excretion occurs within the period of rest during the first day of adult life when muscles needed for swimming are being replaced by those needed for flight. The low rate of excretion which follows on day 2 and is continued on day 3 signals the establishment of full flight activity covering mating and, in the female, the first blood meal. During the blood meal and immediately afterwards the rate of excretion is already known to increase significantly; for a truer measure of this increase the amounts should now have the female basic rate, as here defined, deducted from it.