Parasites and the Behavior of Biting Flies

Abstract

Biting fly behavior involved in parasite transmission is reviewed. Except for the areas of activity and probing, few investigations have addressed ways in which parasites might alter vector behavior. Given the manner in which parasites alter behavior in other arthropods (e.g., habitat choice, color preference), it is reasonable to expect infected hematophagous flies to behave differently from uninfected conspecifics. This could have important epidemiological consequences.