@article{fdi:010037936,
  title = {{D}iscriminative feeding behaviour of {A}nopheles gambiae s.s. on endemic plants in western {K}enya},
  author = {{M}anda, {H}. and {G}ouagna, {L}ouis-{C}l{\'e}ment and {N}yandat, {E}. and {K}abir, {E}. {W}. and {J}ackson, {R}. {R}. and {F}oster, {W}. {A}. and {G}ithure, {J}. {I}. and {B}eier, {J}. {C}. and {H}assanali, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}nopheles gambiae {G}iles s.s. ({D}iptera: {C}ulicidae) is known to feed on plant sugars, but this is the first experimental study to consider whether it discriminates between plant species. {T}hirteen perennial plant species were selected on the basis of their local availability within the vicinity of human dwellings and larval habitats of {A}n. gambiae s.s. in western {K}enya. {G}roups of 100 or 200 mosquitoes were released into cages either with a cutting of one plant type at a time (single-plant assay) or with cuttings of all 13 plants simultaneously (choice assay), respectively, and left overnight. {I}n the choice assay, direct observations of the percentages of mosquitoes perching or feeding on each plant were recorded over four 1-h periods each night. {F}or both types of assay, mosquitoes were recaptured and the percentage that had fed on plants was assessed by testing them individually for the presence of fructose. {T}o identify which plants the choice-assay mosquitoes had fed on, gas chromatography ({GC}) profiles of samples of mosquito homogenates were compared with {GC} profiles of extracts from relevant parts of each plant. {F}our of the plants that were observed to have been fed on most frequently in the choice assay ({P}arthenium hysterophorus {L}., {T}ecoma stans {L}., {R}icinus communis {L}., and {S}enna didymobotrya {F}resen) were also shown to have been ingested most often by mosquitoes in both types of assay, suggesting that {A}n. gambiae is differentially responsive to this range of plants, regardless of whether the plants were presented singly or mixed together. {S}ignificantly more females than males fed on plants, with the exception of {P}. hysterophorus {L}., one of the plants most frequently fed on. {F}or most plant species (ten of 13), {GC} profiles indicated that {A}n. gambiae obtained sugars primarily from flowers. {T}he exceptions were {R} hysterophorus {L}., {L}antana camara {L}. and {R}. communis {L}., on which {A}n. gambiae fed more often from leaves and stems than from flowers.},
  keywords = {{A}nopheles gambiae ; {K}enya ; malaria ; nectar ; plant feeding ; {KENYA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}edical and {V}eterinary {E}ntomology},
  volume = {21},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {103--111},
  ISSN = {0269-283{X}},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1365-2915.2007.00672.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010037936},
}