ArticleMalaria journal2019
Swarms of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania.
Article in Malaria journal, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers.
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Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 50 citations in OpenAlex.
- The complex swarming dynamics of malaria mosquitoes emerge from simple minimally-interactive behavioral rules.PLoS computational biology · 2026Article
- Artificial visual environments to enhance mating success in colonised Anopheles funestus.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Delayed mating in the malaria vector Anopheles funestus compared to Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae).Journal of medical entomology · 2025Article
- Heterogeneous malaria transmission patterns in southeastern Tanzania driven by socio-economic and environmental factors.Malaria journal · 2025Article
- Bioassays for the evaluation of the attractiveness of attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) against Anopheles mosquitoes in controlled semi-field systems.Parasites & vectors · 2025Article
- Article
- Attributes of Anopheles gambiae swarms in South Central Uganda.Parasites & vectors · 2024Article
- Challenges of proper disposal of old long-lasting insecticidal nets and its alternative uses in rural south-eastern Tanzania.PloS one · 2024Article
- Data-driven networking of global transcriptomics and male sexual development in the main malaria vector, Anopheles funestus.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Common predators and factors influencing their abundance in Anopheles funestus aquatic habitats in rural south-eastern Tanzania.PloS one · 2023Article
- Seasonal variation in abundance and blood meal sources of primary and secondary malaria vectors within Kilombero Valley, Southern Tanzania.Parasites & vectors · 2022Article
- Persistently high proportions ofParasite epidemiology and control · 2022Article
- Hitting the right note at the right time: Circadian control of audibility inScience advances · 2022Article
- Swarming Behavior in Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato): Current Knowledge and Future Outlook.Journal of medical entomology · 2022Review
- Wild populations of malaria vectors can mate both inside and outside human dwellings.Parasites & vectors · 2021Article
- Entomological baseline data collection and power analyses in preparation of a mosquito swarm-killing intervention in south-western Burkina Faso.Malaria journal · 2021Article
- Fitness characteristics of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus during an attempted laboratory colonization.Malaria journal · 2021Article
- Article
- CYP6P9-Driven Signatures of Selective Sweep of Metabolic Resistance to Pyrethroids in the Malaria VectorGenes · 2020Article
- Male swarming aggregation pheromones increase female attraction and mating success among multiple African malaria vector mosquito species.Nature ecology & evolution · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 3 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAnopheles funestus mosquitoes currently contribute more than 85% of ongoing malaria transmission events in south-eastern Tanzania, even though they occur in lower densities than other vectors, such as Anopheles arabiensis. Unfortunately, the species ecology is minimally understood, partly because of difficulties in laboratory colonization. This study describes the first observations of An. funestus swarms in Tanzania, possibly heralding new opportunities for control.
methodUsing systematic searches by community-based volunteers and expert entomologists, An. funestus swarms were identified in two villages in Ulanga and Kilombero districts in south-eastern Tanzania, starting June 2018. Swarms were characterized by size, height, start- and end-times, presence of copulation and associated environmental features. Samples of male mosquitoes from the swarms were examined for sexual maturity by observing genitalia rotation, species identity using polymerase chain reaction and wing sizes.
results581 An. funestus (98.1% males (n = 570) and 1.9% (n = 11) females) and 9 Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) males were sampled using sweep nets from the 81 confirmed swarms in two villages (Ikwambi in Kilombero district and Tulizamoyo in Ulanga district). Six copulation events were observed in the swarms. Mean density (95% CL) of An. funestus caught/swarm/village/evening was 6.6 (5.9-7.2) in Tulizamoyo and 10.8 (5.8-15.8) in Ikwambi. 87.7% (n = 71) of the swarms were found in Tulizamoyo, while 12.3% (n = 10) were in Ikwambi. Mean height of swarms was 1.7 m (0.9-2.5 m), while mean duration was 12.9 (7.9-17.9) minutes. The PCR analysis confirmed that 100% of all An. funestus s.l. samples processed were An. funestus sensu stricto. Mean wing length of An. funestus males was 2.47 mm (2.0-2.8 mm), but there was no difference between swarming males and indoor-resting males. Most swarms (95.0%) occurred above bare ground, sometime on front lawns near human dwellings, and repeatedly in the same locations.
conclusionThis study has demonstrated occurrence of An. funestus swarms for the first time in Tanzania. Further investigations could identify new opportunities for improved control of this dominant malaria vector, possibly by targeting the swarms.
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