Project properties
Title How to catch more (blood-fed) mosquitoes?
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 12, 18, 24-30
Supervisor(s) Sander Koenraadt, Tessa Visser
Examiner(s) Marcel Dicke
Contact info Sander.Koenraadt@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/09/01
End date 2024/12/31
Description Several traps are available to trap mosquitoes and thereby monitor vectors of diseases like malaria, dengue and Zika. However, these traps are not designed to catch blood-fed mosquitoes. Blood-fed mosquitoes are especially interesting because blood meal analysis makes it possible to determine on which host they were feeding. Recently, an exciting discovery was made whereby traps baited with a novel (floral-based) odour blend can collect blood-fed mosquitoes and host-seeking mosquitoes. Together with SLU in Sweden, we are working on a synthetic blend and want to optimize existing trapping techniques with new ones. The student will help to test such a blend and work with a variety of behavioural setups and both artificial and natural odour blends.
In the laboratory, blood meals can be identified (MSc), and tests can be performed with mosquitoes that transmit malaria, West Nile virus and Zika virus.
Used skills Behavioural experiments, data-analysis, writing scientific report
Requirements For BSc thesis=>BSc Biology 12 credits
For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation.