Mosquitoes are important as transmitters of widespread major diseases and as nuisance insects. They are also one of the most studied and well-known group of insects, both in the laboratory and in the field. The first volume in The Biology of Mosquitoes series is a key reference work and has received excellent reviews. This second title in the three volume series focuses on the functioning of the mosquito sense organs that provide them with information about the environment and that enable the adult females to find and attack their vertebrate hosts. It also reviews knowledge of the circadian rhythms and other internal mechanisms that regulate the onset and timing of different behaviours. This integrated review of the sensory mechanisms and behaviour of mosquitoes provides a unique insight into their biology. The contents, which are fully up-to-date, include much important work from the past which is often overlooked.
Alan N. Clements is Emeritus Professor of Medical Entomology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.