Mosquito Host Bloodmeal Identification: Methodology and Data Analysis

The first comprehensive series of reviews on the applicability and methodol­ ogy of serological techniques to bloodmeal identification in biting flies was by Weitz (85-87). The last of these reviews also surveyed the available information on the feeding habits of ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies, and tsetse flies. Since then, several reviews have appeared summarizing the large amount of information that has become available on host bloodmeal identi­ fication and the numerous changes and modifications in the serological techniques (5, 6, 35, 75). Tempelis (75) not only reviewed the status of the methodologies involved but thoroughly discussed the literature on the feed­ ing patterns of mosquitoes to that date. There are several other reviews concerning aspects affecting feeding. Included in these reviews are (a) physiological aspects of the digestive processes of hematophagous insects (43), (b) role of host blood in the feeding behavior of ectoparasites and behavioral aspects of chemoreception in blood-sucking invertebrates (39, 40), and (c) physical and chemical factors that affect feeding by blood-sucking insects (37). The present review summarizes the status of host bloodmeal identifica­ tion studies with emphasis on new developments in basic methodology and