Physiological changes governing the onset of sexual receptivity in male mosquitoes

Abstract

The effectors which erect antennal hairs in male mosquitoes are shown to be unresponsive to the neurotransmitter that triggers antennal hair erection until 12–24 hr after emergence. The unresponsive period can be prolonged by transfusion of haemolymph from newly-emerged males, or by injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone. This suggests that the hormone persisting after the metamorphosis from pupa to adult, affects the duration of the post-emergence delay in antennal hair erection and is indirectly responsible for timing the onset of sexual receptivity in male mosquitoes.