Bloodmeal identification and feeding habits of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) collected at five islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

Abstract

To determine the host-feeding patterns of mosquitoes, blood-fed mosquitoes were collected by 5 di#erent methods from various places such as mountain forests, residential areas and animal sheds of the following 5 islands, Amamioshima, Tokunoshima, Iheyajima, Okinawajima and Iriomotejima in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan over a 6 yr period (20052010). A total of 975 bloodmeals derived from blood-fed mosquitoes of 35 species representing 11 genera were successfully identified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method, and 34 vertebrate species were identified as the bloodmeal hosts. Our results indicate that mosquitoes of the same genus show similar host preferences when blood source animals are classified into 5 major groups; mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. The genus Anopheles exhibited mammalophilic and Aedes exhibited mammalophilic, but Ae. (Geoskusea) baisasi Knight and Hull fed predominantly on fishes. Host preferences of the genus Culex were somewhat di#erent among subgenera. Subgenus Culex fed on warm-blooded animals, including mammals and birds, whereas other subgenera fed on various hosts both warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals. The Uranotaenia species were amphibian-feeders and also fed on reptiles and fishes, but not on warm-blooded animals. Medical importance of mosquito species is discussed as related to their feeding patterns and transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.