3D-Feedy: An open and portable membrane feeder for mosquito research

Abstract

Female mosquitoes must feed on blood to produce eggs, a natural behavior that also drives disease transmission. Vector biology research and the development of novel control tools depend on reliable methods for blood feeding of laboratory-reared mosquitoes. Artificial membrane feeders have provided a practical alternative to live animals for decades. However, commercial systems are typically expensive, difficult to repair and are tethered to external water baths or bench-top power supplies. Their limited capacity, usually only a few cages at once, further restricts their use, making them impractical in field settings or large insectaries where dozens of experimental crosses must be fed daily. Here we describe 3D-Feedy, an open-hardware, inexpensive membrane feeder that delivers electrically heated membrane feeding using simple, readily available parts. Powered via USB-C, including smartphone powerbanks, it is portable and straightforward to assemble with only basic tools and skills. In direct comparison with the widely used Hemotek feeder in Anopheles gambiae and Aedes albopictus, the 3D-Feedy achieved equal or higher feeding rates and significantly greater egg production while maintaining comparable larval hatching rates. These results validate 3D-Feedy as a practical and accessible tool for mosquito rearing and experimental studies. All design files and instructions are provided as open hardware resources.