Extended Data Fig. 3: Behavioural response of Anopheles mosquitoes upon reception of the pheromones. | Nature Ecology & Evolution

Extended Data Fig. 3: Behavioural response of Anopheles mosquitoes upon reception of the pheromones.

From: Male swarming aggregation pheromones increase female attraction and mating success among multiple African malaria vector mosquito species

Extended Data Fig. 3

(1) Stimulated Anopheles males secrete an aggregation pheromone (Chemoemiter) which is a mixture of five volatile compounds including acetoin, sulcatone, octanal, nonanal and decanal. (2) The pheromone mediates formation and sustenance of swarm comprised of flying males. (3) Males respond to the pheromone through antennal sensory organs (Chemoreceiver) with a peak of swarming activity during the photoperiod transition (through the diel and circadian gene regulation). (4) After the male swarm a critical swarm size is initiated achieved, the pheromone enhances female attraction to the swarm and increases mating activity (the section between two arrows). Females respond to the male pheromone (our data), and acoustic signal as an essential signal for coupling (previous literature) with characteristic agitated flight, which serves as attraction stimulus to males in the swarm, inducing males to copulate with females while flying. The graphical illustration is made by Emami group.

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