Identification of novel oviposition attractants for malaria mosquitoes.

The development of vector control and monitoring tools that target malaria mosquitoes outside houses and tools that are not insecticide-based have been prioritized by all major funding organizations and the World Health Organization to close the currently existing control gap (i.e. exophilic vector populations, insecticide resistant populations). Targeting oviposition site seeking mosquitoes utilizing odour cues would provide one of such tools. Recent pioneering work implemented by Dr Fillinger’s team at icipe suggests that olfactory cues released from grasses, specifically grasses characteristic for wetlands directly or indirectly through association with fungi might be used by gravid malaria mosquitoes in search for egg-laying sites. This project aims to investigate the relationship between swamp grasses, associated fungi and oviposition site selection of malaria vectors in the laboratory, semi-field and field.

Dr. Ulrike Fillinger - PI.

Donor: Swedish Research Council.

Collaboration: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (Prof Asa Emmer). 2017-2020.