The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a mosquito is a BLOOD SUCKING insect.... BUT....
What does Anopheles earlei
really eat?
The food that is
taken in by A. earlei is dependent on the stage in its life.
Larvae
-Live on the water surface and feed by collection filtering
● algae
● bacteria
● other microorganisms
Pupae:
-Do not eat!
Adults:
-Adults get food by using the specialized structure called the elongate which is a forward projecting
proboscis.
There are three specific
modes of feeding that the mosquito uses. In each of these
methods mutualist bacteria in the gut help with
the processing this food!
1.Water ingestion-
A small volume of edible material is taken in and is
passed to the midgut (where nutrients are absorbed)
2.Nectar feeding-
A large volume of plant juice is passed into crop where it can
be passed slowly into midgut to allow for delayed nutrient uptake.
3. Blood feeding-(Females only)-
Blood is passed
into midgut
MALE
● plant juices- mainly floral nectar
● other sources of sugar
Especially attracted to honeydew!
FEMALE
-Feed on
● plant sugar
● require a
BLOOD MEAL for the development of eggs
Both larvae and adults have a complete
digestive and circulatory (open) system so the nutrients that are
obtained will be dispersed using these systems. Food is stored
by the larvae mainly in the fat
body, which is a sheet
of cells throughout the thorax and abdomen
Anopheles earlei is a very aggressive species in regards to biting and will enter homes to bite. A female will commonly ingest more than her own weight in blood!
This mosquito does not have a host organism but rather lives
independently. However, as discussed, each female mosquito must acquire a
blood meal before being able to lay her eggs. An
organism that has blood must be used for this meal. While the mosquito does not
serve as a long term host for any organism, it is used as a vector
for many viral, bacterial, and other diseases.