New data on the feeding patterns of Haemagogus (Haemagogus) janthinomys Dyar from different geographical regions of Brazil, by using the precipitin test as the bloodmeal-identifying tool, are presented. The following antisera were used: bird, dog, human, rodent, cattle, horse, and opossum. The origins of 287 bloodmeals were identified, whereas 33 specimens were negative to the antiserums tested. Among the reactive specimens, 174 (60.6%) fed on only one food source, of which 35.1% originated from birds, 19.5% from rodents, 12.6% from humans, 10.3% from cattle, 10.3% from opossums, 7.5% from dogs, and 4.6% from horses. One hundred six (37.0%) mosquitoes fed on two sources, of which the most common combinations were bird rodent (16.0%), bird human (10.4%), and horse human (9.4%). Seven (2.4%) mosquitoes fed on three different hosts. Our results suggest that Hg. janthinomys is more eclectic and opportunist than previously known in relation to its hosts and that such patterns are probably highly adaptive to a temporally and spatially variable environment.
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1 November 2005
Feeding Patterns of Haemagogus janthinomys (Diptera: Culicidae) in Different Regions of Brazil
Jeronimo Alencar,
Elias Seixas Lorosa,
Nicolas Dégallier,
Nicolau Maués Serra-Freire,
Juliana Barreto Pacheco,
Anthony Érico Guimarães
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Journal of Medical Entomology
Vol. 42 • No. 6
November 2005
Vol. 42 • No. 6
November 2005
food habitats
Haemagogus janthinomys
insect vectors
mosquito