Application

Mosquito Feeding Assays

Extend capacitance-based feeding measurement to mosquitoes. The modified flyPAD system enables automated, high-throughput feeding assays for Aedes aegypti and other disease-vector species.

How It Works

The flyPAD Custom system adapts the proven capacitance-based detection technology for mosquito-sized insects. Custom arenas are designed with larger chambers and feeding wells optimized for mosquito proboscis dimensions and feeding posture.

The system detects individual proboscis-food interactions when mosquitoes feed on sugar meals or blood meal alternatives. This electronic detection method eliminates the need for dyes or manual observation, enabling high-throughput screening of feeding behavior.

This approach has been validated for Aedes aegypti females and can be adapted for other mosquito species relevant to vector biology and disease transmission research.

See It in Action

Mosquitoes feeding on a modified flyPAD, captured alongside the live capacitance signal.

Aedes aegypti feeding on a modified flyPAD

Two-well arena with the live capacitance trace recording each feeding contact

Published Mosquito Studies

Peer-reviewed research validating the modified flyPAD for mosquito feeding behavior.

Automated analysis of feeding behaviors of females of the mosquito Aedes aegypti using a modified flyPAD system

Henriques-Santos BM, Xiong C, Pietrantonio PV

The first adaptation of the flyPAD for a disease-vector mosquito. The modified system recorded nine feeding variables for Ae. aegypti females offered water, sucrose, and sheep blood, and the number of sips and activity bouts correlated with the meal volume ingested. A heated feeding surface allowed direct measurement of blood ingestion without a membrane, and the assay distinguished the feeding deterrents capsaicin and caffeine — establishing the platform for rapid tastant screening in both sugar and blood meals.

Scientific Reports 13, 20188 (2023) DOI

SkitoSnack 2.0 — a bloodmeal alternative for Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes

Karki A, Luker HA, Potlapalli NNR, Holguin FO, Berwal M, Pietrantonio PV, Hansen IA

A modified flyPAD was used to quantify diet preference in two-choice assays with 384 Ae. aegypti females per group. Mosquitoes took far more sips of the artificial blood-meal alternative than of bovine blood (41.7 vs 4.0) and ingested a substantially larger volume (0.52 vs 0.17 mL; P < 0.001), confirming a strong preference for the new diet — a direct demonstration of automated, quantitative feeding measurement in mosquitoes.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 20(4): e0014188 (2026) DOI

What You Can Measure

Quantify mosquito feeding parameters relevant to vector biology.

Feeding Frequency

Number of proboscis-meal interactions per mosquito over time.

Meal Duration

Duration of individual feeding events on sugar or blood meals.

Meal Preference

Two-choice assays comparing feeding on different meal compositions.

Repellent Efficacy

Test feeding deterrents by measuring reduction in feeding events.

Temporal Patterns

Feeding activity across time of day, relevant to biting cycle research.

Drug Screening

High-throughput testing of compounds that alter mosquito feeding behavior.

Recommended Products

flyPAD Custom

Custom arena configurations for mosquito-sized insects with optimized chamber and feeding well dimensions.

Interested in mosquito feeding assays?

We can design a custom flyPAD system optimized for your mosquito species and experimental needs.

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