Mating and nutritional state affect the reproduction of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes

Mated female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that were maintained after emergence without carbohydrate were more likely to develop eggs after a small blood meal than were unmated females maintained on the same diet. The effect was due to male accessory gland substances transferred to the female during mating. Neither the endogenous reserves of protein and lipid nor the number of eggs developed per volume of ingested blood differed between mated and unmated females, suggesting that the utilization of existing reserves was altered by mating. Methoprene administered to both mated and unmated females that ingested small blood meals reduced the likelihood that egg development would occur. Small volumes of blood were more likely to trigger oogenesis in both mated and unmated females if their abdomens were additionally distended.