Does bird metabolic rate influence mosquito feeding preference?
Jiayue YanJuli BroggiJosué Martínez-de la PuenteRafael Gutiérrez-LópezLaura GangosoRamón SoriguerJordi FiguerolaPublished in: Parasites & vectors (2018)
The relationships between mosquito feeding preferences and individual host characteristics could be explained by enhanced anti-mosquito behaviour associated with higher metabolic rates. The potential role of cues emitted by hosts is also discussed. Thus, individuals with high metabolism may actively avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, despite releasing more attractant cues. Since metabolic rates can be related to individual differences in personality and life history traits, differences in mosquitoes' feeding preferences may be related to intraspecific differences in exposure to vector-borne pathogens.