Chloé Lahondère

Research Interest:

Chemical Ecology, Thermal Biology and Neuroethology    

Synopsis:

Dr. Lahondere’s research focuses on studying the effects of temperature, and by extension, climate change, on the physiology and behavior of disease vector insects, vector-host-pathogen interactions and disease vector insects’ ability to invade new areas. Her group also works on the evolution of blood-feeding and nectar-feeding ecology in mosquitoes.    

Description:

Dr. Lahondere studies the thermal biology, ecophysiology and neuroethology of disease vector insects, such as mosquitoes (including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, both able to spread several diseases including Zika), tsetse flies, and kissing bugs, and ticks. She relies on a collaborative, multidisciplinary and integrative approach, combining fieldwork, behavioral analyses, molecular biology, chemical ecology and electrophysiology. The results from these projects help develop a better understanding of the disease vectors’ biology that then lays the groundwork for the development of new tools to control their populations through thermo-sensory targeting.