It was once very challenging to study the detailed feeding behaviors of piercing-sucking vectors of pathogens (infecting either plants or animals). Their piercing mouthparts penetrate opaque host tissues, preventing direct, visual observation. The invention of electropenetrography (EPG) overcame this challenge. EPG has been used for over 50 years to study the effects of insecticides and natural products on feeding behaviors underlying plant-pathogen transmission, primarily by tiny, plant-feeding vectors like aphids and whiteflies. The 3rd-generation, AC-DC electropenetrograph has flexible settings that can be tuned to optimize detection of any type of feeding by any size of arthropod on any type of host plant or animal. These advances in EPG technology are opening new doors to studies of animal-pathogen vectors like mosquitoes and ticks. Opportunities now exist to study effects of many pest management tactics, such as chemical compounds, on blood feeding underlying animal-pathogen transmission. The purpose of this talk is to encourage new research avenues by 1) briefly explaining the abilities of the AC-DC electropenetrograph, and 2) reviewing study results on effects of compounds on feeding by plant-pathogen vectors, to inspire future research on blood feeding by animal-pathogen vectors.
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