Feeding response of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrant L., to blood fractions and adenine nucleotides

Abstract

Feeding responses of the stable fly (Stornoxys calcitruns L., Diptera: Muscidae) to blood fractions and saline-based diets were studied in an artificial feeding device. Flies fed equally on whole blood, plasma and erythrocyte fractions while resuspended platelets or the buffy layer did not stimulate feeding. Evidence from filtration studies indicates that plasma contains both less-than-5000D and greater-than-100,000D phagostimulatory components. ATP, ADP and AMP in saline stimulate feeding in this insect in a dose-dependent manner. CAMP also stimulates feeding in the range of concentrations tested. It is argued that the less-than-5000D phagostimulant may be one or more of these adenine nucleotides.