Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-45l2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T20:44:18.169Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mediation of oviposition site selection in the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) by semiochemicals of microbial origin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Leunita A. Sumba ,
Tom O. Guda ,
Arop L. Deng ,
Ahmed Hassanali ,
John C. Beier  and
Bart G.J. Knols
Leunita A. Sumba
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Mbita Point Research and Training Centre, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya Department of Zoology, Egerton University, PO Box 536, Njoro, Kenya
Tom O. Guda
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Mbita Point Research and Training Centre, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
Arop L. Deng
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Egerton University, PO Box 536, Njoro, Kenya
Ahmed Hassanali
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Mbita Point Research and Training Centre, PO Box 30, Mbita Point, Kenya
John C. Beier
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Highland Professional Building, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Ave., Suite 300 (D-93), Miami, FL 33136, USA
Bart G.J. Knols
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Get access

Abstract

Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the role of larval habitat-derived microorganisms in the production of semiochemicals for oviposition site selection by Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto mosquitoes. Dual-choice bioassays with gravid females were conducted in standard mosquito cages. Field-collected or laboratory-reared mosquitoes, individually or in groups, were offered a choice between unmodified (water or soil from a natural breeding site) or modified substrates (filtered water, autoclaved soil or sterile media to which bacterial suspensions had been added). Egg counts were used to assess oviposition preferences. Mosquitoes preferred to oviposit on unmodified substrates from natural larval habitats containing live microorganisms rather than on sterilized ones. Variable responses were observed when sterile substrates were inoculated with bacteria isolated from water and soil from natural habitats. We conclude that microbial populations in breeding sites produce volatiles that serve as semiochemicals for gravid An. gambiae. These signals, in conjunction with other (non-olfactory) chemical and physical cues, may be used by the female to assess the suitability of potential larval habitats in order to maximize the fitness of her offspring.

Keywords

oviposition site selectionsoil microbiotasemiochemicalsAnopheles gambiae
Type
Short Communication
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 260 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beehler, J. W., Millar, J. G. and Mulla, M. S. (1993) Synergism between chemical factors and visual cues influencing oviposition of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culcidae). J. Chem. Ecol. 19, 635–643.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benzon, G. L. and Apperson, C. S. (1988) Reexamination of chemically mediated oviposition behavior in Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 25, 158–164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blackwell, A. and Johnson, S. N. (2000) Electrophysiological investigation of larval water and potential oviposition chemo-attractants for Anopheles gambiae s.s. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 94, 389–398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Briegel, H., Hörler, E. (1993) Multiple blood meals as a reproductive strategy in Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 30, 975–985.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Everall, N. C. and Lees, D. R. (1997) The identification and significance of chemicals released from decomposing barley straw during reservoir algal control. Water Res. J. 31, 614–620.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gimnig, J. E., Ombok, M., Kamau, L. and Hawley, W. A. (2001) Characteristics of larval anopheline (Diptera: Culicidae) habitats in Western Kenya. J. Med. Entomol. 38, 282–288.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gjullin, G. M., Johnsen, J. O. and Plapp, F. W. J. (1965) The effect of odors released by various waters on the oviposition sites selected by two species of Culex. Mosq. News 25, 268–269.Google Scholar
Hazard, E. I., Mayer, M. S. and Savage, K. E. (1967) Attraction and oviposition stimulation of gravid female mosquitoes by bacteria isolated from hay infusions. Mosq. News 27, 133–136.Google Scholar
Ikeshoji, T., Saito, K. and Yano, A. (1975) Bacterial production of the ovipositional attractants for mosquitoes on fatty acid substrates. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 10, 239–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, J. C. and Corbet, S. A. (1991) Compounds affecting mosquito oviposition: structure–activity relationships and concentration effects. J. Am. Mosq. Cont. Assoc. 7, 37–41.Google ScholarPubMed
Kramer, W. L. and Mulla, M. S. (1979) Oviposition attractants and repellents of mosquitoes: oviposition responses of Culex mosquitoes to organic infusions. Environ. Entomol. 8, 1111–1117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCrae, A. W. (1984) Oviposition by African malaria vector mosquitoes. II. Effects of site tone, water type and conspecific immatures on target selection by freshwater Anopheles gambiae Giles, sensu lato. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 78, 307–318.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Merritt, R. W., Dadd, R. H. and Walker, E. D. (1992) Feeding behavior, natural food, and nutritional relationships of larval mosquitoes. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 349–376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millar, J. G., Chaney, J. D. and Mulla, M. S. (1992) Identification of oviposition attractants for Culex quinquefasciatus from fermented Bermuda grass infusions. J. Am. Mosq. Cont. Assoc. 8, 11–17.Google ScholarPubMed
Minakawa, N., Mutero, C. M., Githure, J. I., Beier, J. C. and Yan, G. (1999) Spatial distribution and habitat characterization of anopheline mosquito larvae in Western Kenya. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 61, 1010–1016.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Minakawa, N., Githure, J. I., Beier, J. C. and Yan, G. (2001) Survival strategies of anopheline mosquitoes during dry period in Western Kenya. J. Med. Entomol. 38, 388–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Navarro, D. M. A., F., De, Oliveria, P. E. S., Potting, R. P. J., Brito, A. C. and Fital, S. J. F. (2003) The potential attractant or repellent effects of different water types on oviposition in Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 127, 46–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poonam, S., Paily, K. P. and Balaraman, K. (2002) Oviposition attractancy of bacterial culture filtrates-response of Culex quinquefasciatus. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 97, 359–362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reiter, P. (1983) A portable battery-powered trap for collecting gravid Culex mosquitoes. Mosq. News 43, 496–498.Google Scholar
Reiter, P., Amador, M. A. and Colon, N. (1991) Enhancement of the CDC ovitrap with hay infusions for daily monitoring of Aedes aegypti populations. J. Am. Mosq. Cont. Assoc. 7, 52–55.Google ScholarPubMed
Rejmankova, E., Harbin-Ireland Lege, M. (2000) Bacterial abundance in larval habitats of four species of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Belize, Central America. J. Vect. Ecol. 25, 229–239.Google ScholarPubMed
Service, M. (1993) Mosquito Ecology: Field Sampling Methods. Chapman and Hall, London. 988 pp.Google Scholar
Smith, T. W., Walker, E. D. and Kaufman, M. G. (1998) Bacterial density and survey of cultivable heterotrophs in the surface water of a freshwater marsh habitat of Anopheles quadrimaculatus larvae (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Am. Mosq. Cont. Assoc. 14, 72–77.Google ScholarPubMed
Straif, S. C., Mbogo, C. N., Toure, A. M., Walker, E. D., Kaufman, M., Touré, Y. T. and Beier, J. C. (1998) Midgut bacteria in Anopheles gambiae and An. funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kenya and Mali. J. Med. Entomol. 35, 222–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Takken, W. and Knols, B. G. J. (1999) Odor-mediated behavior of Afrotropical malaria mosquitoes. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 44, 131–157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trexler, J. D., Apperson, C. S., Zurek, L., Gemeno, C., Schal, C., Kaufman, M., Walker, E., Watson, D. W. and Wallace, L. (2003) Role of bacteria in mediating the oviposition responses of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 40, 841–846.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walker, E. D. and Merritt, R. W. (1993) Bacterial enrichment in the surface microlayer of an Anopheles quadriannulatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larval habitat. J. Med. Entomol. 30, 1050–1052.CrossRefGoogle Scholar