Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Royal Entomological Society Journal Awards.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology is a Royal Entomological Society journal dedicated to the dissemination of impactful entomological research of medical, veterinary and forensic importance.
This journal highlights transmission dynamics of vector-borne pathogens, arthropod ecology, behaviour and development, and innovative control approaches, emphasizing novel research with original articles, short communications, and reviews, excluding purely descriptive studies.
With a focus on arthropod biology, and interactions with hosts and pathogens, this journal is a valuable platform for advancing medical, veterinary and forensic entomology research.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology Winner
Lucas dos Santos Silva: Effects of Metarhizium humberi conidia formulated with micronized carnauba wax on self-grooming behaviours by Aedes aegypti adults 39.3
Lucas dos Santos Silva is a biologist and MSc student in the Tropical Medicine and Public Health Program at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), in Goiânia, Brazil, conducting research at the Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health (IPTSP). HIs research focuses on the development of biological control strategies targeting Aedes aegypti, a major mosquito vector of arboviruses. His work combines molecular and experimental approaches to investigate infection dynamics of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium humberi, with the aim of improving vector control strategies.
Evaluation of locomotion and self-grooming behaviour. Photo credit: Lucas Silva
His recent research has explored host–pathogen interactions and mosquito behavioural responses to fungal exposure. He demonstrated that conidia were removed by self-grooming behaviour from the mosquito cuticle, and this behaviour may influence the effectiveness of biocontrol strategies. He was also a visiting research student at the University of Victoria, Canada, for seven months, where he assessed the microbiome of the parasitoid wasp Trissolcus japonicus.
Tracking contamination on the mosquito body surface. Photo credit: Lucas Silva
This study shows that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes respond to contamination with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium humberi. They increase self-grooming behaviour, and remove a significant number of fungal spores from the their body, especially within the first few hours after exposure to spores. Due to this substantial reduction in fungal load, fewer spores remain available to infect the mosquito. These findings indicate that self-grooming acts as an effective behavioural defence and reduces the success of fungal infections, which may limit the overall effectiveness of fungal-based mosquito control strategies.
Adult mosquito bearing conidia adhered to its body surface. Photo credit: Lucas Silva
The judges noted that Lucas dos Santos Silva and his co-authors explored the adherence of Metarhizium humberi conidia, formulated with or without micronized was powders that aid adhesion, in mosquitoes that exhibited natural grooming behaviours and those that were immobilized. They commented: “This paper was chosen because it has a clear hypothesis, solid study design and thorough presentation of data. The study fills an important gap in our understanding of self-grooming behaviours and raises important considerations for biological control of arbovirus vectors.”
– Judges’ comments
