Attraction of male mosquitoes to sound

Abstract

Early observations and experiments on the attraction of male mosquitoes are reviewed briefly. Our present inadequate knowledge of the physiology of sound receptors is summarized and some of the hypotheses to explain direction finding in flying male mosquitoes are discussed. Some of the field tests carried out to attract mosquitoes to traps with sound, alone or combined with other attractants, are described and the potential for using sounds in mass trapping or sterilizing and releasing mosquitoes is assessed.