Biology, Surveillance and Control of Mosquito Vectors

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Figure 4.5: Adult of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens.

curring when they are biting. Females evidently gain little nourishment from blood meals

but need them in order to develop eggs. Many mosquitos feed on any warm-blooded bird

or mammal. However, some prefer cold-blooded animals. Some species also prefer birds

and seldom feed on mammals, which is the case with Culex spp.

Unfortunately, many species feed on a wide range of warm-blooded mammals and

humans are often attacked. Once a female has completely engorged, it flies to a shaded

environment until her eggs are completely developed, usually 3 to 5 days. Once the eggs

are developed the female is called a gravid female and she begins to search for a desirable

place to lay her eggs. If a female survives her egg laying activities, she will very soon start

searching for another blood meal after which she will lay another batch of eggs. She does

not need to mate a second time (Harbach & Knight 1980, Jorge 2001).

Generally, a female will only live long enough to lay 1 to 3 batches of eggs. Most of

mosquito species are actively searching for a blood meal in the evening hours from just

before dark until 2 to 3 hours after dark. During the daytime the females normally rest in

cooler vegetated areas where the humidity is higher and they are protected from drying

out. Females will often bite in the daytime if humans or animals invade the wooded areas

where they are resting. However, Aedes albopictus is an aggressive biter which prefers to

feed during the daylight hours and is often a nuisance in urban areas (fmel.ifas.ufl.

edu/key/anatomy/adult.shtml, Harbach & Knight 1980, Jorge 2001).

4.4

MOSQUITOS CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH OVERVIEW

Mosquito-borne diseases are not usually considered important problem for public

health worldwide, but there should be awareness of their potential on vectorial capacity

and competency to carry and transmit pathogen agents, which are the main cause if these

infectious diseases in human. These diseases are dynamic and their potential, either in the

resort, camping areas or their vicinity, can generate adverse publicity that often has a se-

vere economic impact on recreational facilities (Newson 1977, Rohani 2008).