Mosquito-mediated pollination: Exploring sensory cues, plant volatiles and ecological roles

Pollination is a fundamental biological process essential for plant reproduction, often mediated by biotic agents, a huge chunk of which is composed of different insect orders. Mosquitoes have been considered pests and vectors of several diseases, masking the fact of their contribution towards pollination; this review aims to reclaim the significance of mosquitoes as pollinating agents while giving brief information on various forms of entomophily. The interaction between plants and mosquitoes involves the role of various sensory cues that drive the mosquitoes towards the plants. The cues might be visual, which includes the colour of the flower or its UV reflection. They may also be olfactory through the different volatile compounds or semiochemicals that the plant may release to attract potential pollinators. Plants also produce certain volatiles through different mechanisms when faced with stress, such as herbivory, these volatiles, termed herbivory induced plant volatiles may also play a role in deterring insects that may serve as pollinators when released. This review identified several publications and evidence uncovered in research conducted on mosquitoes as pollinating agents and physio-chemical interactions with different plant and mosquito species while giving examples about different forms of entomophily and delving into plant defence strategies.