Autogeny
Guides
Apatolestes
Apatolestes is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae, subfamily Pangoniinae, established by Williston in 1885. The genus comprises approximately 14 recognized species distributed in North America, with some species exhibiting autogeny—the ability of females to produce an initial egg batch without a blood meal. At least one species, Apatolestes actites, has been documented as autogenous in coastal California habitats.
Apatolestes actites
Apatolestes actites is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described from coastal California in 1962. It is notable for being autogenous—females can produce eggs without requiring a blood meal, a relatively uncommon trait among tabanids. The species is restricted to coastal habitats in California and has been the subject of limited biological study.
Corethrella
frog-biting midges
Corethrella is the sole genus in the family Corethrellidae, comprising 132 extant and 10 fossil species. These midges are unique among Diptera in using acoustic cues to locate hosts. Adult females are hematophagous and feed on frog blood, while larvae are aquatic predators. The genus has a predominantly pantropical distribution with fossil records extending to the Lower Cretaceous.
Culex pipiens
common house mosquito, northern house mosquito
Culex pipiens is a globally distributed mosquito species native to Africa, Asia, and Europe, now found in temperate regions worldwide except Antarctica. It is the type species for the genus Culex and one of the most common mosquitoes in human habitats in the northern hemisphere. The species includes two morphologically indistinguishable but ecologically distinct forms: C. p. form pipiens, which lives above ground and feeds primarily on birds, and C. p. form molestus, which lives underground and bites mammals including humans. Hybrids between these forms exhibit intermediate feeding behavior and are implicated as bridge vectors for West Nile virus transmission from birds to humans.
Culex tarsalis
Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Culex tarsalis is a mosquito species distributed across North America, with particular importance in the western United States as a vector of multiple arboviruses. The species is distinguished by black and white banding on the legs. It serves as the primary vector for West Nile virus in agricultural areas of California and transmits Saint Louis encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and avian malaria parasites. Some populations exhibit autogeny, the ability to produce eggs without blood feeding. The species has been the subject of extensive genetic research, with a reference genome published in 2020.
Culiseta alaskaensis
Alaskan winter mosquito
Culiseta alaskaensis, the Alaskan winter mosquito, is a Holarctic mosquito species adapted to cold subarctic and arctic environments. It has a univoltine life cycle with larvae overwintering and adults emerging in late summer. Females exhibit a distinctive reproductive strategy: they are autogenous for their first egg batch, producing eggs without a blood meal, but require blood for subsequent batches. Adults enter hibernation shortly after emergence without mating or feeding, with mating deferred until spring.
Ornithodoros turicata
relapsing fever tick
Ornithodoros turicata is a soft tick (family Argasidae) found in the midwestern and southwestern United States. It is the primary vector of Borrelia turicatae, the spirochete agent of tick-borne relapsing fever in humans. The tick has been documented feeding on at least 27 vertebrate host species across mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It exhibits autogenous reproduction (egg production without a bloodmeal) and transovarial transmission of spirochetes, enabling pathogen maintenance across generations.