LACTIC-ACID SENSITIVE RECEPTORS IN THE AUTOGENOUS MOSQUITO AEDES ATROPALPUS

Host seeking behavior is not observed during the first gonotrophic cycle in Aedes atropalpus. The objectives of this study were to examine the possible role of the peripheral sensory system in this phenomenon. The results show that the rate of maturation of the lactic acid sensitive neurons is relatively rapid in this species so the absence of host-seeking during the first gonotrophic cycle cannot be attributed to delayed development of the peripheral sensory system. Furthermore, lactic acid receptors of high sensitivity are present on the antennae of females that are gravid and in the early stages of egg development. These results support the conclusion that a humoral mechanism of host-seeking inhibition is not operative in this species, at least during autogenous egg development, and show that receptors for at least one host attractant are fully mature early in the first autogenous gonotrophic cycle.