Author
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Adams, Terrance |
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Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: This review shows how blood-feeding sets a series of events into action that result in excretion, molting and ovarian maturation. Two model insects are discussed - the yellow fever mosquito and the blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius. Bugs used in augmentative biological control programs that are reared on artificial diets do not produce as many eggs as those that are reared on natural hosts do. The information presented here will be helpful in developing methods to monitor reproduction in artificially reared predacious bugs. The yellow fever mosquito is a good model that is applicable to blood-feeding flies of medical and veterinary importance. The extensive literature review will be useful to students and researchers working with blood-feeding insects. Technical Abstract: Hematophagy is a life style exhibited by some 14,000 species of insects from 5 orders, but detailed physiological information is available for only a few species. This review focuses on two well-studied insects, Rhodnius prolixus, an obligatory hematophage, and Aedes aegypti, an optional hematophage. Emphasis is placed on hormones that are released after blood-feeding that stimulate diuresis, molting, and reproduction. Even though these two insects have been studied since the 1930s, many areas of research are still unexplored. The review and extensive reference list will be beneficial for researchers working with predacious Hemiptera and protein feeding Diptera. |
