Wing singing: the interdependency of mosquito acoustics and aerodynamics

Animal flight is a complex phenomenon, poised at the interface of neurobiology and fluid
dynamics. The beating wings of mosquitoes produce aerodynamic forces and also the sound
signals necessary for mid-flight acoustic courtship. This poses a considerable challenge for
the flight control system because a flight-related change of wingbeat kinematics can directly
affect acoustic communication, and vice versa. Anopheles mosquitoes alone are linked to
500,000 human deaths each year from malaria. This project aims to approach a more unified
understanding of mosquito acoustic communication and its relation to underlying
aerodynamic requirements with a view to novel vector control strategies.