Effects of absence of saliva on blood feeding by mosquitoes.

The salivary glands of Aedes stimulans (Walker) are the source of an antigen which produces typical bite reactions in men and laboratory rabbits. If the main salivary duct is cut, the reaction is not produced when the mosquito bites. Lack of saliva does not affect the intake or movement of blood into the mid-gut, nor does it prevent the development of eggs. The presence of ain a-nesthetic component in saliva is suggested.