Link between behavior, metabolism, and cell recycling in ticks and mosquitoes

Hematophagous arthropods like mosquitoes and ticks adjust their behavior and metabolism in response to fluctuating nutrient availability.

• Both groups display changes in behavior and signaling related to nutrient levels.
• Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, may connect energy status to important life processes like reproduction.
• Evidence from mosquitoes suggests strong mechanistic links between behavior, metabolism, and cellular recycling.
• In contrast, studies on ticks are limited, highlighting gaps in understanding their responses to nutrient fluctuations.
• The review emphasizes the need for further investigation into the interactions among behavior, metabolism, and autophagy in these species.

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