Table 1 Summary of behavioural bioassays with gravid An. gambiae s.s. in two-port airflow olfactometers and in large field cages in relation to research questions

Two-port airflow olfactometer bioassays

 Calibration experiments

  Do the olfactometer bioassays result in reproducible outcomes? What is the response rate that can be expected from released gravid mosquitoes?

    Water

Water

16

831 (1600)^a

    Empty

Empty

13

595 (1300)

    Empty

Water

14

707 (1400)

    Water

Hay infusion

12

710 (1200)

Choice between wet soil vs wet soil + graminoid plant from natural aquatic habitats

 Based on previous work on soil infusions [52], is the associated sedge, C. rotundus, attractive to gravid mosquitoes or is attraction based on soil alone?

   Water

Water

16

1060 (1600)

   Soil

C. rotundus

16

875 (1600)

Choice between water vs water + graminoid plants

 Do intact graminoid plants from natural aquatic habitats attract gravid An. gambiae s.s.? Is C. rotundus more attractive than other graminoid plants? Is there a difference in behavioural response to a grass not naturally associated with breeding sites?

   Water

C. rotundus

16

1245 (1600)

   Water

C. exaltatus

16

1204 (1600)

   Water

P. repens

16

1194 (1600)

   Water

C. dactylon

16

1016 (1600)

   Water

C. setaceus

16

1064 (1600)

Choice between two graminoid plant species

  P. repens

C. rotundus

16

1224 (1600)

  C. dactylon

C. rotundus

16

1179 (1600)

Large-cage choice bioassays with free-flying mosquitoes

 Do gravid An. gambiae s.s. show similar behavioural response to the plant volatiles at longer-range?

   Water

Water

16

1431 (3200)

   Water

C. rotundus

16

2125 (3200)

   Water

C. exaltatus

16

2075 (3200)

   Water

P. repens

16

1858 (3200)

   Water

C. dactylon

16

1988 (3200)

   Water

C. setaceus

16

1478 (3200)

   P. repens

C. rotundus

16

2234 (3200)