Hematophagy

Definition

The consumption of blood as a primary or obligate food source. In arthropods, hematophagy has evolved independently in multiple lineages, typically involving specialized mouthparts for piercing skin and accessing capillaries, plus salivary components that modulate host hemostasis, inflammation, and immune responses. Blood-feeding arthropods serve as critical vectors for pathogens including malaria parasites, arboviruses, and trypanosomes.

Etymology

From Greek haima (blood) + phagein (to eat)

Example

Female mosquitoes (Culicidae) practice hematophagy to acquire protein for egg development, whereas males feed exclusively on nectar; the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae locates human hosts through detection of carbon dioxide, body heat, and skin odorants.

Synonyms

• sanguivory

Related Terms

• Hematophagous
• vector biology
• host seeking
• salivary antihemostatics
• Trophallaxis
• nectarivory

Usage Notes

Distinguished from predation or scavenging involving blood incidentally; true hematophagy requires behavioral, morphological, and physiological adaptations for accessing and processing blood. The adjectival form 'hematophagous' describes the organism, while 'hematophagy' names the behavior. Some authors restrict 'sanguivory' to vertebrate blood-feeders, but usage varies.