@article{fdi:010076687,
  title = {{S}emi-field and indoor setups to study malaria mosquito swarming behavior},
  author = {{N}iang, {A}. and {N}ignan, {C}. and {P}oda, {B}. {S}. and {S}awadogo, {S}. {P}. and {D}abire, {K}. {R}. and {G}nankine, {O}. and {T}ripet, {F}. and {R}oux, {O}livier and {D}iabate, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {T}he recent resurgence of interest in sterile insect techniques to control vector mosquitoes has renewed interest in novel methods for observing mating behavior. {M}alarial vectors of the {A}nopheles gambiae complex are known to mate in swarms at specific locations at dawn and dusk. {M}ost knowledge of mosquito swarming behavior is derived from field observations and a few experimental studies designed to assess critical parameters that affect mosquito swarming. {H}owever, such studies are difficult to implement in the field because of uncontrollable environmental factors and mosquito conditions. {H}ere, we present two experimental setups specifically designed to analyze mosquito swarming behavior and provide evidence that swarming behavior of mosquitoes can be generated and accurately assessed under both semi-field and laboratory conditions. {M}ethods {T}he {M}osquito {E}cology {R}esearch {F}acility setup is a semi-field enclosure made of 12 compartments (10.0 x 6.0 x 4.5 m {L} x {W} x {H} each) exposed to ambient meteorological and lighting conditions. {T}he laboratory setup consists of a windowless room (5.1 x 4.7 x 3.0 m) in which both environmental and mosquito conditions can be controlled. {I}n the two setups, 300 3-6-days-old {A}n. coluzzii virgin males were released and some swarm characteristics were recorded such as the time at which the swarm started, the number of mosquitoes in the swarm and the height. {C}limatic conditions in the semi-field setup were also recorded. {R}esults {I}n both setups, {A}n. coluzzii males displayed stereotyped and consistent swarming behavior day after day; males gradually gather into a swarm over a ground marker at sunset, flying in loops in relation to specific visual features on the ground. {A}lthough semi-field climatic conditions were slightly different from outdoors conditions, they did not impede swarming behavior and swarm characteristics were similar to those observed in the field. {C}onclusions {S}warm characteristics and their consistency across days provide evidences that these facilities can be used confidently to study swarming behavior. {T}hese facilities come to complement existing semi-field setups and pave the way for new experimental studies which will enhance our understanding of mating behavior but also mosquito ecology and evolution, a prerequisite for application of genetic approaches to malaria control.},
  keywords = {{A}nopheles ; {B}urkina {F}aso ; {M}ating behavior ; {M}osquito ecology research ; facility ; {S}warming room ; {BURKINA} {FASO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}arasites and {V}ectors},
  volume = {12},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {art. 446 [9 p.]},
  ISSN = {1756-3305},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1186/s13071-019-3688-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010076687},
}