The size of emerging and host-seeking Aedes aegypti and the relation of size to blood-feeding success in the field.

Abstract

The average wing length of Aedes aegypti females collected as pupae was 2.47 mm, which was significantly smaller than the 2.64 mm average wing length of the host-seeking females collected in the field. The average wing length of nulliparous host-seeking females was 2.62 mm, which was significantly smaller than the 2.76 mm wing length of parous host-seeking females. Thus, small Ae. aegypti females exhibited reduced blood-feeding success and, most likely, reduced survival when compared with large adults.