A new study from the University of Cincinnati reveals that mosquitoes can survive prolonged droughts by relying on blood meals, potentially explaining why mosquito-borne illnesses don't always decline during dry periods. The study also highlights the adaptability of mosquitoes to changing environmental conditions.
Mosquitoes can survive prolonged droughts by drinking blood, which helps to explain why rates of mosquito-borne illness don't always decline in dry periods. Mosquitoes can endure extended periods without rainfall by relying on blood meals, according to biologists at the University of Cincinnati. This ability allows their populations to quickly rebound when rain finally returns.
Christopher Holmes, a postdoctoral researcher at UC, led a study investigating how two mosquito species known for transmitting diseases like malaria managed to survive nearly three weeks without rain. The findings shed light on why the incidence of mosquito-borne illness doesn't always decrease during droughts. While the overall mosquito population might be smaller, the surviving mosquitoes tend to bite more frequently. Furthermore, mosquitoes appear to be thriving in the context of climate change as winters become warmer, Holmes noted. Under favorable conditions, female mosquitoes consume blood from a host to support egg production. Approximately four days later, they lay their eggs and seek another blood meal to repeat the cycle. However, during droughts, mosquitoes supplement their initial blood meal by feeding repeatedly to stay hydrated in the days leading up to egg-laying. This can provide them with more opportunities to spread diseases such as dengue fever, Zika, or malaria, Holmes explained. 'There's a common assumption that during droughts, there are fewer mosquitoes and consequently, less opportunity for the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses,' said co-author and UC Professor Joshua Benoit. 'However, the modeling doesn't necessarily support this.' The study examined mosquitoes that had been genetically modified to impair specific senses, such as the ability to detect carbon dioxide, which is crucial for locating potential hosts. Researchers also impaired some mosquitoes' sensitivity to changes in humidity levels. They discovered that mosquitoes with impaired carbon dioxide detection did not survive dry periods because they couldn't locate hosts to bite. Co-author and UC doctoral student Souvik Chakraborty pointed out that even mosquito eggs possess remarkable resilience against prolonged droughts. 'Their eggs are resistant to drying out,' he said. 'They can survive sometimes for as long as a year.' He added, 'You'll get rainfall and the water level rises, and as soon as it touches the eggs, they hatch almost instantly.' Likewise, UC postdoctoral researcher and study co-author Oluwaseun Ajayi noted that mosquitoes in the genus Culex, found globally, can tolerate cold temperatures as well. 'They are often called a house mosquito,' Holmes added. 'They'll hide out in cellars or culverts. Before winter, they'll drink nectar and get really fat, building up these huge lipid deposits. And then when it gets warm enough, they'll quickly seek a blood meal, lay eggs, and die.' Lead researcher Holmes stated that his team's latest findings have deepened his appreciation for the remarkably long history of mosquitoes on Earth. The oldest mosquitoes date back to the early Cretaceous, 125 million years ago. They are an integral part of the food chain, feeding everything from fish to birds to bats and other insects. Benoit emphasized that the study demonstrates the resilience of these insects, which predate dinosaurs. 'They live almost everywhere except Antarctica,' he said. 'They tolerate a wide range of habitats.' He concluded, 'Understanding more about their biology is crucial to comprehending how they survive and reproduce.
MOSQUITOES CLIMATE CHANGE DROUGHT DISEASE SURVIVAL BIOLOGY RESEARCH
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