Grass-Like Plants Release General Volatile Cues Attractive for Gravid Anopheles Gambiae S.S. Malaria Vector Mosquitoes

Abstract

Understanding the ecology and behaviour of disease vectors, including the olfactory cues used to orient and select hosts and egg-laying sites, are essential for the development of novel, insecticide-free control tools. Selected graminoid plants have been shown to release volatile chemicals attracting malaria vectors, however, whether the attraction is selective to individual plants or more general across genera and families is still unclear.