Physical Factors Affecting the Feeding Responses of Culiseta inornata11 to Atp, Sucrose, and Blood

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Abstract
Female Culiseta inornata (Williston) are stimulated to respond in a ‘blood-feeding mode’ and to feed to repletion on diets containing 10 mM ATP in Ringer solution if these diets are presented at 37°C and are covered by a Baudruche ® membrane. This diet goes to the midgut. The phagostimulatory effect of ATP is drastically reduced if feeding on warm diets does not take place through a membrane and the ATP response nearly disappears if the diet is presented as a free liquid at 20°C. Any diet ingested under these conditions, however, goes to the midgut. More insects feed to repletion on fresh human blood warmed to 37°C and covered with a membrane than when it is presented as a free liquid at 20°C. Diets of 1M sucrose in water induce C. inornata to feed in a ‘nectar or sugar-feeding mode’ placing the food in the crop. The physical factors that enhance the response to ATP or blood depress the response to sucrose.