title: Rice volatiles lure gravid malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles arabiensis.
abstract: Mosquito oviposition site selection is essential for vector population dynamics and malaria epidemiology. Irrigated rice cultivations provide ideal larval habitats for malaria mosquitoes, which has resulted in increased prevalence of the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, in sub-Saharan Africa. The nature and origin of the cues regulating this behaviour are only now being elucidated. We show that gravid Anopheles arabiensis are attracted and oviposit in response to the odour present in the air surrounding rice. Furthermore, we identify a synthetic rice odour blend, using electrophysiological and chemical analyses, which elicits attraction and oviposition in laboratory assays, as well as attraction of free-flying gravid mosquitoes under semi-field conditions. This research highlights the intimate link between malaria vectors and agriculture. The identified volatile cues provide important substrates for the development of novel and cost-effective control measures that target female malaria mosquitoes, irrespective of indoor or outdoor feeding and resting patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.|Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.|Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Department, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30772, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Betelehem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wondwosen
authors.affiliation: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birgersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Emiru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seyoum
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Habte
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tekie
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Department, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30772, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Baldwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torto
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Department, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30772, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.|Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fillinger
authors.affiliation: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 102, Sundsvägen 14, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rickard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ignell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D012275:Oryza / Q000378:metabolism*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds