Mosquito Migration: Study Finds More High-Altitude Dispersal of Disease Vectors in Africa
Following the discovery that mosquitoes can ride high-altitude winds to travel long distances, further research is adding to both the scope and variety of species engaged in such migrations—factors sure to complicate efforts to curb transmission of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases in Africa.
Plant Pollen May Be Important Food Source for Some Mosquitoes in U.S.
Larvae of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) fared well in a new study when fed a diet of corn or pine pollen. The findings suggest corn pollen could help the species— key vector of West Nile virus in the U.S.—thrive in habitats near agricultural areas.
Let It Be B: In the Search for Blood, One Mosquito Species Has a Type (RETRACTED)
A new study shows the malaria-transmitting Anopheles stephensi has a strong preference for type B human blood. The finding has implications for identifying individuals at high risk of mosquito-borne disease, but those with other blood types shouldn't put away the insect repellent.
Inducing Mosquitoes to Lay Eggs Aids in Insecticide Resistance Testing
Testing field-caught mosquitoes for insecticide resistance is a critical effort in the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Researchers in Thailand say a "forced oviposition" method has proven successful in inducing field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes to lay eggs and spawn lab populations big enough for insecticide-resistance testing.