THE APPLICATION OF SPLIT-SCREEN TELEVISION RECORDING AND ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT TO THE STUDY OF FEEDING IN A BLOOD-SUCKING INSECT (RHODNIUS PROLIXUS)

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Abstract
A method is described for observing, photographing, and video-taping the mouthparts ofRhodnius prolixusStal., a blood-feeding insect, as it feeds on an artificial diet. This method was combined with another for recording the electrical resistance between the haemolymph of a feeding insect and its diet. By using a split-screen television technique simultaneous recordings were made of the changes in electrical resistance and feeding events such as mouthpart movements, salivation, and ingestion. Slow speed and stop-frame playback allowed accurate analysis and correlation of rapid events. The techniques described could be applied to many other types of investigation.