Mosquitoes Eating Mosquitoes: How , , and (Diptera: Culicidae) Capture Prey.

High-speed microcinematography was used to elucidate the details of prey capture by the larvae of three predatory mosquito species. The obligate predators and exhibited a high degree of convergence as both utilize three essential elements: 1) abdominally-generated hemostatic pressure to propel the head towards the prey; 2) lateral palatal brushes (LPB) opening and fanning into anterior-directed basket-like arrangements; 3) simultaneously with the LPB-basket formation, the wide opening of sharp-toothed mandibles. Thus, LPBs and mandibles are used for prey capture by both species.

Vectorial capacities for malaria in eastern Amazonian Brazil depend on village, vector species, season, and parasite species.

Background: The vector species in the Amazon River Basin are regionally and locally diverse, which makes it imperative to understand and compare their roles in malaria transmission to help select appropriate methods of intervention and evaluation. The major aim of this study was to measure the vectorial capacity of five Anopheles species in three neighbouring villages, for two Plasmodium parasite species affecting humans.

Methods: From 32 consecutive months of sampling in three villages, 1.

Interspecific Mating Effects on Locomotor Activity Rhythms and Refractoriness of (Diptera: Culicidae) Females.

This study tests the hypotheses that the locomotor activity of females is not significantly altered by the presence of accessory gland (AG) extracts from conspecific and heterospecific males, and that females remain receptive to mating with conspecific males even after receiving AG of males. Virgin females were injected with saline (control group), AG extracts of males (aegMAG) or AG extracts of males (albMAG). Locomotor activity was evaluated under 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness at 25 °C.

Effects of Mosquito Biology on Modeled Chikungunya Virus Invasion Potential in Florida.

Arboviruses transmitted by and have been introduced to Florida on many occasions. Infrequently, these introductions lead to sporadic local transmission and, more rarely, sustained local transmission. Both mosquito species are present in Florida, with spatio-temporal variation in population composition.

Rapid Loss of Resistance to Satyrization in Invasive Mosquitoes and the Effects of Age on Interspecific Mating Frequency.

In several areas where Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) have come in contact following successful invasions, Ae. aegypti have been rapidly displaced by Ae.