Desiccation tolerance in Anopheles coluzzii: the effects of spiracle size and cuticular hydrocarbons

The African malaria mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and A. coluzzii range over forests and arid areas, where they withstand dry spells and months-long dry seasons, suggesting variation in their desiccation tolerance. We subjected a laboratory colony (G3) and wild Sahelian mosquitoes during the rainy and dry seasons to desiccation assays. The thoracic spiracles and amount and composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of individual mosquitoes were...