Monthly Meeting: Mosquitoes (and Orchids) — by Clément Vinauger, Chloé Lahondère

Clément and Chloé are post-doctoral associates (from France) in the UW Biology Department who study mosquitoes and their survival strategies. So where do orchids come into it? Well, it seems that some of our inconspicuous, local Washington orchids are mosquito-pollinated! The talk will include an overview of this unexpected association, and will then discuss questions of how do mosquitoes survive out there, anyway?

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" The central theme of our research is to better understand and characterize how mosquitoes deal with the challenges that come with their risky way of life. How do they cope with the thermal stress associated with the ingestion of a large volume of hot blood? How do they find the sugars they need to sustain their metabolism? Can they take advantage of their individual experience and learn to select the hosts that are the least defensive and easiest to feed on? " These issues have huge importance for humans since mosquitoes transmit some of our most debilitating diseases, killing around a million people annually plus many domestic animals. Don't miss this exciting meeting!

As always, all are welcome at our meetings, whether members or not. (Dues paying (http://crawford.tardigrade.net/Scarabs.html) members get a newsletter by postal mail).

RSVP if you want an email reminder. Otherwise, just show up!

Information about parking (http://www.burkemuseum.org/sites/default/files/parking_onesheet_R6.pdf) (Parking will be tight in N1 due to construction - you can also park in N5 across Memorial Way (by the observatory) or elsewhere – see PDF instructions linked above.)

Photo of how to get into the building for our meeting. (http://crawford.tardigrade.net/journal/gear/MuseumImage.jpg)