A high-pitched buzzing sound in your ear is an unmistakable sign that a female mosquito is out on the hunt -; for they, not males, drink blood. Hearing that tone might make you turn to try to swat the pest. But for a male mosquito, that tone means it's time to mate.
An international team led by researchers at the University of Washington has uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, which could lead to improved malaria control techniques and even help develop precision drone flight. In a paper published Aug. 30 in the journal Current Biology, the team revealed that when a male Anopheles coluzzii mosquito hears the sound of female-specific wingbeats, his vision becomes active.
Many mosquito species have relatively poor vision, and A nopheles coluzzii -; a major spreader of malaria in Africa -; is no exception. But the team found that when a male hears the telltale buzz of female flight, his eyes "activate" and he visually scans the immediate vicinity for a potential mate. Even in a busy, crowded swarm of amorous mosquitoes, which is how A.
coluzzii mates, the researchers found that the male can visually lock on to his target. He then speeds up and zooms deftly through the swarm -; and avoids colliding with others. "We have discovered this incredibly strong association in male mosquitoes when they are seeking out a mate: They hear the sound of wingbeats at a specific frequency -; the kind that females make -; and that stimulus engages the visual system," said lead aut.