Comparison of Anopheles cracens (Stenogamous) and Anopheles dirus (Eurygamous) blood-feeding behaviors, survival rates and fecundity after first and second blood meals

Malaria is a serious health problem in Southeast Asia. The malaria vectors Anopheles cracens (Stenogamous) and Anopheles dirus (Eurygamous) were used to evaluate the impact of first and second blood meals on feeding, survival and hatching rates, and fecundity. Females were divided as follows: mated with oviposition, mated without oviposition, and virgin. The blood-feeding rates of An. cracens groups were significantly lower for the second blood meal than for the first. Additionally, for An. dirus mated without oviposition and virgin groups, blood-feeding rates were significantly lower for the second blood meal compared with the first blood meal. Survivorship and the number of eggs laid increased for An. cracens after the second blood meal, but the opposite was true for An. dirus. There were no differences in hatching rates. Thus, blood meals affected survivorship and fecundity in naturally mating An. cracens and induced-mating An. dirus.