The role of relative humidity (RH) in the host-seeking behaviour of female Anopheles gambiae s.s. (Diptera: Culicidae) was investigated in a wind-tunnel. Mosquitoes were significantly more successful in entering either of two odourless entry ports during periods of rising RH than when RH was stable or falling. Only 16% of mosquitoes responded in the absence of odour, compared with 66.4% in the presence of human skin odours. When presented with a choice, mosquitoes always preferred the odour port more than the odourless. RH and skin odour therefore interact in the host-seeking process of Anopheles gambiae s.s.
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Takken et al. (1997) studied this question.