Mosquitoes: biting behavior inhibited by ecdysone

Biting in Anopheles freeborni is inhibited during ovarian development. Biting inhibition is triggered by ecdysone, a hormone produced by the ovary during oogenesis. Biting inhibition does not occur in females after the removal of ovaries, but is restored by replacing ovaries or injecting ecdysone. Ecdysone also inhibits biting behavior when it is fed to females. This is the first example of ecdysone controlling a nonmolt-related behavior in insects.