Sugar feeding patterns of New YorkAedes albopictusmosquitoes are affected by environmental dryness, flowers, and host seeking

Abstract

8 Background 9 Sugar feeding is an important behavior which may determine vector potential of mosquitoes.10 Sugar meals can reduce blood feeding frequency, enhance survival, and decrease fecundity, as 11 well as provide energetic reserves to fuel energy intensive behaviors such as mating and host 12 seeking. Sugar feeding behavior also can be harnessed for vector control (e.g. attractive toxic 13 sugar baits). Few studies have addressed sugar feeding of Aedes albopictus, a vector of 14 arboviruses of public health importance, including dengue and Zika viruses. To address this 15 knowledge gap, we assessed sugar feeding patterns of Ae. albopictus for the first time in its 16 invasive northeastern USA range. 1718 Methodology/ Principal Findings 19 Using the cold anthrone fructose assay with robust sample sizes, we demonstrated that a large 20 percentage of both male (49.6%) and female (41.8%) Ae. albopictus fed on plant or homopteran 21 derived sugar sources within 24 hrs of capture. Our results suggest that sugar feeding behavior 22 increases when environmental conditions are dry and may vary by behavioral status (host 23 seeking vs. resting). Furthermore, mosquitoes collected on properties with flowers (>3 blooms) 2 24 had higher fructose concentrations compared to those collected from properties with few to no 25 flowers (0-3). 2627 Conclusions/Significance 28 Our results provide the first evidence of Ae. albopictus sugar feeding behavior in the 29 Northeastern US and reveal relatively high rates of sugar feeding. These results suggest the 30 potential success for regional deployment of toxic sugar baits. In addition, we demonstrate the 31 impact of several environmental and mosquito parameters (environmental dryness, presence of 32 flowers, host seeking status, and sex) on sugar feeding. Placing sugar feeding behavior in the 33 context of these environmental and mosquito parameters provides further insight into 34 spatiotemporal dynamics of feeding behavior for Ae. albopictus, and in turn, provides 35 information for evidence-based control decisions. 37 Introduction 38Ae. albopictus is a vector of numerous pathogens, including dengue, Chikungunya and 39 Zika viruses as well as dog heartworm parasites [1, 2]. It is rapidly expanding its global range 40 and is pushing northward in the USA, enabled by local adaptation and winter egg diapause [3, 4].41 This highly adaptable mosquito can survive in drastically varied ecosystems, ranging from 42 tropical to temperate climates, making it one of the most successful invasive species globally [5].43 Understanding this mosquito's feeding behavior and ecology across its invasive range is essential 44 for understanding risk and devising control methods. 45Sugar feeding is an important mosquito behavior with implications for disease 46 transmission and control [6]. It can impact mosquito life history through a number of 3 47 mechanisms and can vary between mosquito species [7]. For females, there may be trade-offs in 48 transmission potential between blood and sugar feeding ...