Partitioning of glycogen, lipid, and sugar in ovaries and body remnants of female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) fed human blood

Abstract

We examined the accumulation of glycogen, lipid, and sugar obtained from a human blood meal for egg development and body energy reserves by small and large female Aedes aegypti (L.). Small and large mosquitoes were fed a single meal of human blood on day 2 after emergence. Mosquitoes were collected at 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after blood feeding and ovaries and body remnants were separated by dissection and then assayed. Large mosquitoes had greater reserves than small mosquitoes. Mosquitoes deposited similar proportions of lipid reserves obtained from blood meals in their ovaries regardless of body size. Small mosquitoes deposited a significantly higher proportion of their glycogen in ovaries than large mosquitoes. The pattern of energy accumulation and use indicates that to avoid starvation, mosquitoes fed a single human blood meal will need to feed again before ovipositing, and that multiple feeding may be more important for small than for large Ae. aegypti.