Rickard Ignell

My research aims at understanding the chemical ecology, ethology and evolution of disease vectors, primarily blood-feeding insects such as mosquitoes and biting midges.

My research group plans and promotes basic research on the chemical ecology of disease vectors in accordance with societal needs, nationally and internationally. A main goal is to apply this know‐how to develop novel surveillance and control tools. For this we use chemical, electrophysiological and behavioural analyses to identify natural bioactive volatile compounds that regulate the host-seeking and oviposition behaviours of these insects.

Another research interest is to understand the dynamic nature of mosquito behaviour, and how gene expression and the physiology of the olfactory system are affected by the physiological state of the insects.

Moreover, my research group is interested in the evolution of the olfactory system of blood feeding insects.