First report of behavioural lateralisation in mosquitoes: right-biased kicking behaviour against males in females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

Benelli, Giovanni; Romano, Donato; Messing, Russell H.; Canale, Angelo

doi:10.1007/s00436-015-4351-0

Cited by 49 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…All fishes were tested in tanks (40 × 30 × 20 cm) with their sidewalls shielded with screens of white filter paper (42 ashless, Whatman Limited, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom) to prevent environmental cues 41 . In each experiment, the behaviour of B .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple cues produced by a robotic fish modulate aggressive behaviour in Siamese fighting fishes

Romano

Benelli

Donati

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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The use of robotics to establish social interactions between animals and robots, represents an elegant and innovative method to investigate animal behaviour. However, robots are still underused to investigate high complex and flexible behaviours, such as aggression. Here, Betta splendens was tested as model system to shed light on the effect of a robotic fish eliciting aggression. We evaluated how multiple signal systems, including a light stimulus, affect aggressive responses in B. splendens. Furthermore, we conducted experiments to estimate if aggressive responses were triggered by the biomimetic shape of fish replica, or whether any intruder object was effective as well. Male fishes showed longer and higher aggressive displays as puzzled stimuli from the fish replica increased. When the fish replica emitted its full sequence of cues, the intensity of aggression exceeded even that produced by real fish opponents. Fish replica shape was necessary for conspecific opponent perception, evoking significant aggressive responses. Overall, this study highlights that the efficacy of an artificial opponent eliciting aggressive behaviour in fish can be boosted by exposure to multiple signals. Optimizing the cue combination delivered by the robotic fish replica may be helpful to predict escalating levels of aggression.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple cues produced by a robotic fish modulate aggressive behaviour in Siamese fighting fishes

Romano

Benelli

Donati

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…In particular, the majority of the studies focused on the sexual behaviour of medically important Aedes species focused on comparisons of insemination ability in sterilized and wild males (e.g. Balestrino et al 2010;Wiwatanaratanabutr et al 2010;Boyer et al 2011;Oliva et al 2012;Bellini et al 2013;Hamady et al 2013;Moretti and Calvitti 2013;Madakacherry et al 2014), without behavioural quantification of courtship and mating events (but see Oliva et al 2013;Benelli 2015c;Benelli et al 2015). Notably, limited information is also available on the potential molecules mediating aggregation and mating dynamics in mosquitoes (Cabrera and Jaffe 2007;Fawaz et al 2014;Pitts et al 2014).…”

Section: Behaviour-based Control Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Declining malaria, rising of dengue and Zika virus: insights for mosquito vector control

2016

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The fight against mosquito-borne diseases is a challenge of huge public health importance. To our mind, 2015 was an extraordinary year for malaria control, due to three hot news: the Nobel Prize to Youyou Tu for the discovery of artemisinin, the development of the first vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria [i.e. RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S)], and the fall of malaria infection rates worldwide, with special reference to sub-Saharan Africa. However, there are major challenges that still deserve attention, in order to boost malaria prevention and control. Indeed, parasite strains resistant to artemisinin have been detected, and RTS,S vaccine does not offer protection against Plasmodium vivax malaria, which predominates in many countries outside of Africa. Furthermore, the recent outbreaks of Zika virus infections, occurring in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, represent the most recent of four arrivals of important arboviruses in the Western Hemisphere, over the last 20 years. Zika virus follows dengue (which slyly arrived in the hemisphere over decades and became more aggressive in the 1990s), West Nile virus (emerged in 1999) and chikungunya (emerged in 2013). Notably, there are no specific treatments for these arboviruses. The emerging scenario highlights that the effective and ecofriendly control of mosquito vectors, with special reference to highly invasive species such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, is crucial. The concrete potential of screening plant species as sources of metabolites for parasitological purposes is worthy of attention, as elucidated by the Y. Tu's example. Notably, plant-borne molecules are often effective at few parts per million against Aedes, Ochlerotatus, Anopheles and Culex young instars, can be used for the rapid synthesis of mosquitocidal nanoformulations and even employed to prepare cheap repellents with low human toxicity. In addition, behaviour-based control tools relying to the employ of sound traps and the manipulation of swarming behaviour (i.e. Blure and kill^approach) are discussed. The importance of further research on the chemical cues routing mosquito swarming and mating dynamics is highlighted. Besides radiation, transgenic and symbiont-based mosquito control approaches, an effective option may be the employ of biological control agents of mosquito young instars, in the presence of ultra-low quantities of nanoformulated botanicals, which boost their predation rates.

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“…The majority of studies investigating the sexual behaviour of medically important Aedes species just compare the insemination ability in sterilised and wild type males [154,155,156,157,158,159,160,161]. Behavioural quantification of courtship and mating events has often been excluded in sexual behaviour studies [149,162,163]. Notably, there is also only limited information on the molecules that mediate mosquito aggregation and mating [164,165].…”

Section: Behavioural Knowledge: a Tool To Enhance Mosquito Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Control of Mosquito Vectors: Past, Present, and Future

Benelli

Jeffries

Walker

2016

Insects

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337

216

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Mosquitoes represent the major arthropod vectors of human disease worldwide transmitting malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses such as dengue virus and Zika virus. Unfortunately, no treatment (in the form of vaccines or drugs) is available for most of these diseases and vector control is still the main form of prevention. The limitations of traditional insecticide-based strategies, particularly the development of insecticide resistance, have resulted in significant efforts to develop alternative eco-friendly methods. Biocontrol strategies aim to be sustainable and target a range of different mosquito species to reduce the current reliance on insecticide-based mosquito control. In this review, we outline non-insecticide based strategies that have been implemented or are currently being tested. We also highlight the use of mosquito behavioural knowledge that can be exploited for control strategies.

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First report of behavioural lateralisation in mosquitoes: right-biased kicking behaviour against males in females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

Cited by 49 publications

References 30 publications

Multiple cues produced by a robotic fish modulate aggressive behaviour in Siamese fighting fishes

Multiple cues produced by a robotic fish modulate aggressive behaviour in Siamese fighting fishes

Declining malaria, rising of dengue and Zika virus: insights for mosquito vector control

Biological Control of Mosquito Vectors: Past, Present, and Future

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