Some Observations on the Biting Behavior ofAnopheles gambiae s.s, Anopheles arabiensis, andAnopheles funestusand Their Implications for Malaria Control

Abstract

Studies were carried out in three villages in western Kenya on the biting behavior ofAnopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles arabiensis,andAnopheles funestus.Blood feeding behavior and departure from houses were studied under the impact of permethrin-impregnated eaves-sisal curtains. Only 2–13% of the female vector population was collected biting before 2200 hr. Over 90% of the villagers went to bed by 2100 hr.An. funestuswas 6.6–8.2 times more likely to bite people indoors than outdoors, whileAn. gambiae s.l.females were only 2 times as likely. Under the influence of permethrin-impregnated sisal curtains placed under the eaves of village houses, there was a marked egress of blood-fedAn. funestusandAn. gambiae s.s.Permethrin seems to have induced exophily of half-gravid femaleAn. gambiae s.s.WhileAn. gambiae s.s.remained highly anthropophagic under the impact of permethrin,An. funestusshifted to feeding more on cattle.An. arabiensiswere largely zoophilic. Our results underline the difficulties of controllingAn. gambiae s.s.,the principal African malaria vector. New strategies must be found to control this vector