Interval flights and glycogen utilization by the mosquito, Culex tarsalis

Abstract

The tethered flight performance of female Culex tarsalis mosquitoes was measured with an automatically recording flight-mill system. Mosquitoes were allowed to fly for uninterrupted periods of 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min. Flight ability did not change appreciably from one interval to another with respect to time. The distance flown in 120 min was about eight times that flown in 15 min. There was no indication of fatigue or a ‘reluctance’ to fly at the end of any flight. Glycogen utilization was also measured during the different flight intervals. The rate of glycogen utilization was greatest during 5- and 15-min flights (177 μg/mosquito per hr for 5-min flights and 187 μg/mosquito per hr for 15-min flights). The rate of glycogen utilization decreased by about two-thirds after 1 hr of flight. However, no additional rate change was observed during the second hour of flight.