Feeding patterns revealed host partitioning in a community of frog‐biting mosquitoes

Abstract

1. Resource partitioning is a critical component in competing species that coexist in a community. The biting behaviour of coexisting frog‐biting mosquito species associated with a tropical anuran community is investigated. 2. Monthly samplings were taken for 2 years at two study sites in central Sri Lanka to collect frog‐biting mosquitoes, anuran abundance, environmental data, and interactions between mosquitoes and anuran hosts. Mosquitoes were collected using mouth‐operated aspirators and sound traps broadcasting anuran calls. Mosquitoes were identified using taxonomic keys and DNA barcodes. 3. A total of 1079 frog‐biting mosquitoes from four species belonging to two genera were collected [Uranotaenia rutherfordi (5%), Ur. morphotype 1 (67%), Ur. morphotype 2 (21%), and Mansonia uniformis (7%)]. Species‐specific interactions between Uranotaenia mosquitoes and their anuran host were found. Uranotaenia morphotype 1, the most common species, was mainly attracted (99%) to Duttaphrynus melanostictus. Uranotaenia rutherfordi was mainly attracted (95%) to Pseudophilautus rus, while Ur. morphotype 2 was attracted (97%) to Polypedates cruciger. These Uranotaenia species are active at different hours at night that correspond to the peak calling activity of their anuran host. Each Uranotaenia species was active at heights that coincide with the calling sites of their host. In contrast, Ma. uniformis was non‐specific in host choice and was equally distributed in space and time with respect to host feeding. 4. Here, previously unknown feeding patterns of co‐occurring frog‐biting mosquito species and their interactions with anurans present in their community are reported, highlighting the existence of complex behavioural patterns of these mosquito communities.

Within host acoustic signal preference of frog‐biting mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) on Iriomote Island, Japan

“…2019; but see de Silva et al . 2020). In some systems, frog‐biting midges are attracted to a broad range of pure tones, 100–4000 Hz, and are preferentially attracted to tones around 2 kHz (Meuche et al .…”

Review of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Afrotropical region using herpetofauna as hosts: conservation and epidemiological consequences of knowing little about many species

“…De Silva et al . (2020) in turn found Ma. uniformis feeding regularly on several species of frogs in Sri Lanka and even postulated an attraction to vocalisations.…”

“…yaeyamana are all also attracted to frog calls (Borkent and Belton 2006; de Silva et al . 2020; Toma et al . 2005, 2014).…”

“…De Silva et al . (2020) also reported on two additional species of Uranotaenia they were unable to identify as being attracted to frog calls.…”

Morphological variations in male genitalia of seven mosquito genera (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kandy, Sri Lanka

“…This is one of the most abundant groups of insects widespread throughout the country, and many act as vectors of life-threatening diseases such as dengue, chikungunya malaria, lymphatic filariasis and Japanese encephalitis (JE) (Herath et al, 1988;Peiris et al, 1993;Amerasinghe et al, 2002). Recent studies have reported the presence of ornithophilic and frog-biting mosquitoes, potentially vectors of emerging infectious diseases in humans and wildlife (Chathuranga et al, 2018;Chathuranga et al, 2021;de Silva et al, 2020). Accurate and precise identification of these mosquito species and siblings of species complexes is crucial for managing and controlling mosquito-borne diseases.…”