LIMBURGER CHEESE AS AN ATTRACTANT FOR THE MALARIA MOSQUITO ANOPHELES-GAMBIAE SS

In the process of bloodfeeding, female Anopheles can transmit malaria parasites to humans. At night, while searching for blood, these insect s respond to visual, physical and chemical properties of humans. Curre nt research concentrates on the identification of kairomones, which gu ide mosquitoes to humans. Earlier observations on the biting behaviour of Anopheles gambiae s.s. on humans have note resulted in the discove ry of a remarkable attractant for this important malaria vector, and i t is thought that this will accelerate the development of odour-baited traps for malaria mosquito surveillance and control in sub-Saharan Af rica, as discussed here by Bart Knols and Ruurd De Jong.