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First report of behavioural lateralisation in mosquitoes: right-biased kicking behaviour against males in females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

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Abstract

Lateralisation (i.e. functional and/or structural specialisations of left and right sides of the brain) of aggressive traits has been studied in a number of vertebrates, while evidence for invertebrates is scarce. Mosquito females display aggressive responses against undesired males, performing rejection kicks with the hind legs. In this research, we examined lateralisation of kicking behaviour in females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. We found a right-biased population-level lateralisation of kicking behaviour. Four repeated testing phases on mosquito females confirmed the preferential use of right legs. However, when left legs were used, the mean number of kicks per rejection event was not different to that performed with right legs. Both left and right kicking behaviour lead to successful displacement of undesired partners. This is the first report about behavioural lateralisation in mosquitoes.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor Heinz Mehlhorn and the anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. We are grateful to Barbara Conti for providing Asian tiger mosquitoes. Giovanni Benelli is supported by a Mis. 124 MODOLIVI Grant. Russell H. Messing is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project 9023R. Funds were also provided by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Insect Behaviour Group, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Giovanni Benelli, Donato Romano & Angelo Canale

  2. Kauai Agricultural Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 7370 Kuamo’o Road, Kapaa, HI, 97646, USA

    Russell H. Messing

Authors
  1. Giovanni Benelli
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  2. Donato Romano
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  3. Russell H. Messing
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  4. Angelo Canale
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Correspondence to Giovanni Benelli.

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Benelli, G., Romano, D., Messing, R.H. et al. First report of behavioural lateralisation in mosquitoes: right-biased kicking behaviour against males in females of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus . Parasitol Res 114, 1613–1617 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4351-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4351-0

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