Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39899382›Full record

SynthesisEnvironmental entomology2025

The food of life: which nectar do mosquitoes feed on?-An evidence-based meta-analysis.

Eva Herreros-Moya, Marianne Sinka, Angela F Harris, Julian Entwistle, Andrew C Martin, Kathy J Willis

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Environmental entomology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Eva Herreros-MoyaDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3040-5661
Marianne SinkaDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Angela F HarrisInnovative Vector Control Consortium, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
Julian EntwistleInnovative Vector Control Consortium, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
Andrew C MartinScott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Kathy J WillisDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Funding

Gates Foundation INV-007509
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Nectar is an important source of food for adult mosquitoes, influencing their biological characteristics including longevity, fecundity, and flight range. Consequently, it can impact mosquitoes' survival and efficiency in transmitting disease. Different mosquito species are known to show preferences for flower nectar from certain plants, yet despite the importance of these plant-mosquito associations, knowledge of such biotic interactions is sparse. Here, we present a systematic map to address the question: "Which nectar do mosquitoes feed on?." The mapping process identified 49 articles (comprising 51 studies) meeting inclusion criteria, detailing 397 records of 74 mosquito species feeding on nectar from 145 plant species and 109 genera. Data extracted from the map were then analyzed to better understand if mosquitoes showed preferences for specific plant nectar. A key finding from this study is clear evidence supporting the hypothesis that mosquitoes exhibit preferences for nectar from particular plant species, including 77 species of plants and 58 genera for Aedes species, 18 species of plants and 17 genera for Anopheles species, and 16 species of plants and 16 genera for Culex species (all 3 genera belong in Diptera: Culicidae). Our study also highlighted the need for further field and laboratory work in time and space and using methods that randomly selects plant species for investigation. This would facilitate a better understanding of the relationship between mosquito feeding behavior and nectar seasonality and abundance; data that are critical for the development and improvement of new mosquito control methods to tackle vector-borne diseases.

Indexed as

CulicidaePlant NectarAnimalsFeeding BehaviorPlant Nectarmeta-synthesismosquitonectar feedingvector biologyvector control

Identifiers

PMID39899382
PMCPMC12005952

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.