Observations on multiple bloodfeeding in field-collected Culiseta melanura.

This study examined field populations of Culiseta melanura for evidence of partial blood meals and multiple feeding behavior. Engorged specimens that had 1/3 or less abdominal distention together with eggs in stage I-II of ovarian development were recorded as mosquitoes that had taken partial blood meals. Multiple blood meals were credited to engorged specimens with fresh blood as well as partially digested blood surrounded with separate peritrophic membranes and eggs in stage III or IV of ovarian development. Results indicated that only 17 of 532 Cs. melanura were captured with a partial meal, indicating that natural populations feed to repletion more than 95% of the time. Less than 1% of the specimens showed physical evidence of feeding on multiple hosts. Culiseta melanura appears to be highly efficient at obtaining a full blood meal and seems to be extremely reluctant to refeed once ovarian development has been initiated. As a result, multiple feeding does not appear to be important in the amplification of virus by this species.