Chapter 19: Vision in mosquitoes
Frances M. Hawkes, Jochen Zeil, Gabriella Gibson
Abstract
The visual environments that mosquito disease vectors must navigate are complex but can provide vital sensory information that facilitates various behaviours and ecological interactions. Species-specific variations in anatomical structures of dipteran eyes reflect the wide range of species-specific niches. The behaviours that arise from the acquisition of visual information are crucial to mosquito survival and, ultimately, their role as disease vectors. This chapter begins with an introduction to variations in the light environment that drive the development of different visual systems. It then outlines the principles of vision in mosquitoes, describing the structures within the eye, and the range of resulting visual capabilities these enable. Focusing on key disease vectors, including crepuscular, nocturnal and diurnal species, their differing visual systems are compared within the context of their particular photoperiodic niches. Taking a broad ecological perspective, the chapter will then explore the importance of visual stimuli in vector behaviours, covering the optomotor response and landscape navigation, swarming, host-seeking behaviours, including orientation and landing, and oviposition.