Odor-mediated behavior of Afrotropical malaria mosquitoes

The African mosquito species Anopheles gambiae sensu late s.l. and Anophele s funestus rank among the world's most efficient vectors of human malaria. Their unique bionomics, particularly their anthropophilic, endophagic and e ndophilic characters, guarantee a strong mosquito-host interaction, favorab le to malaria transmission. Olfactory cues govern the various behaviors of female mosquitoes and here we review the role of semiochemicals in the life history of African malaria vectors. Recent evidence points towards the exi stence of human-specific kairomones affecting host-seeking A. gambiae s.l., and efforts are under way to identify the volatiles mediating this behavio r. Based on examples from other Culicidae spp., it is argued that there is good reason to assume that mating, sugar feeding, and oviposition behavior in Afrotropical malaria vectors may also be mediated by semiochemicals. It is foreseen that increased knowledge of odor-mediated behaviors will be app lied in the development of novel sampling techniques and possibly alternati ve methods of intervention to control malaria.