Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae
Abstract The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a major African malaria vector, transmitting parasites responsible for significant mortality and disease burden. Although flight acoustics are essential to mosquito mating and present promising alternatives to insecticide-based vector control strategies, th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03236-5 |
| _version_ | 1819096225895415808 |
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| author | Stefano S. Garcia Castillo Kevin S. Pritts Raksha S. Krishnan Laura C. Harrington Garrett P. League |
| author_facet | Stefano S. Garcia Castillo Kevin S. Pritts Raksha S. Krishnan Laura C. Harrington Garrett P. League |
| author_sort | Stefano S. Garcia Castillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a major African malaria vector, transmitting parasites responsible for significant mortality and disease burden. Although flight acoustics are essential to mosquito mating and present promising alternatives to insecticide-based vector control strategies, there is limited data on mosquito flight tones during swarming. Here, for the first time, we present detailed analyses of free-flying male and female An. gambiae flight tones and their harmonization (harmonic convergence) over a complete swarm sequence. Audio analysis of single-sex swarms showed synchronized elevation of male and female flight tones during swarming. Analysis of mixed-sex swarms revealed additional 50 Hz increases in male and female flight tones due to mating activity. Furthermore, harmonic differences between male and female swarm tones in mixed-sex swarms and in single-sex male swarms with artificial female swarm audio playback indicate that frequency differences of approximately 50 Hz or less at the male second and female third harmonics (M2:F3) are maintained both before and during mating interactions. This harmonization likely coordinates male scramble competition by maintaining ideal acoustic recognition within mating pairs while acoustically masking phonotactic responses of nearby swarming males to mating females. These findings advance our knowledge of mosquito swarm acoustics and provide vital information for reproductive control strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e1f1adc2b1f4ed189786cc7156b4fc1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e1f1adc2b1f4ed189786cc7156b4fc12022-12-21T18:45:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-12-0111111810.1038/s41598-021-03236-5Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiaeStefano S. Garcia Castillo0Kevin S. Pritts1Raksha S. Krishnan2Laura C. Harrington3Garrett P. League4Laboratorio de Malaria: Parásitos y Vectores, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaDepartment of Entomology, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Entomology, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Entomology, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Entomology, Cornell UniversityAbstract The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a major African malaria vector, transmitting parasites responsible for significant mortality and disease burden. Although flight acoustics are essential to mosquito mating and present promising alternatives to insecticide-based vector control strategies, there is limited data on mosquito flight tones during swarming. Here, for the first time, we present detailed analyses of free-flying male and female An. gambiae flight tones and their harmonization (harmonic convergence) over a complete swarm sequence. Audio analysis of single-sex swarms showed synchronized elevation of male and female flight tones during swarming. Analysis of mixed-sex swarms revealed additional 50 Hz increases in male and female flight tones due to mating activity. Furthermore, harmonic differences between male and female swarm tones in mixed-sex swarms and in single-sex male swarms with artificial female swarm audio playback indicate that frequency differences of approximately 50 Hz or less at the male second and female third harmonics (M2:F3) are maintained both before and during mating interactions. This harmonization likely coordinates male scramble competition by maintaining ideal acoustic recognition within mating pairs while acoustically masking phonotactic responses of nearby swarming males to mating females. These findings advance our knowledge of mosquito swarm acoustics and provide vital information for reproductive control strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03236-5 |
| spellingShingle | Stefano S. Garcia Castillo Kevin S. Pritts Raksha S. Krishnan Laura C. Harrington Garrett P. League Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae Scientific Reports |
| title | Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae |
| title_full | Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae |
| title_fullStr | Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae |
| title_short | Harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae |
| title_sort | harmonic convergence coordinates swarm mating by enhancing mate detection in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03236-5 |
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