Abstract
The African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae is strongly attracted to human body odor and skin temperature. Quantitative behavioral assays suitable for use in semi-field environments with this nocturnal mosquito species are essential to gain improved insights into An. gambiae sensory biology, the mechanistic basis of mosquito attraction to humans, and host preference. In this protocol, we describe steps for engineering equipment for a novel behavioral assay for An. gambiae, which we have termed the odor-guided thermotaxis assay (OGTA). The OGTA uses infrared videography to quantify landings of female An. gambiae on an aluminum platform heated to human skin temperature that can be baited with volatile odorants such as carbon dioxide or human whole body odor. The OGTA facilitates high-content recordings of An. gambiae landing behavior during odor-guided thermotaxis under naturalistic semi-field conditions without the requirement for domestic power.
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