Observations on the feeding habits of four species of Mansonia (Mansonioides) mosquitoes in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Studies on the feeding habits of Mansonia annulata, M. annulifera, M. indiana and M. uniformis were carried out in southern Thailand. This study showed that M. annulata and M. uniformis were both strongly exophagic mosquitoes which avoided approaching and entering human dwellings. The biting frequency on the verandah was considerably higher than indoors. M. indiana was not repelled by houses but avoided biting indoors. M. annulifera was endophagic, it was attracted by houses and bit on the verandah as frequently as indoors. Some species showed differential preference for age- and sex-groups of human hosts: M. annulata was more attracted by adolescents and adults than by children and M. annulifera preferred female hosts. The other species did not distinguish between host groups.