›› 2007, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (10): 1060-1069.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Olfaction in chemically mediated host seeking and oviposition behavior of mosquitoes

  

  • Online:2007-10-20 Published:2007-11-23

Abstract: Olfaction plays crucial role in mosquito host seeking, oviposition and searching for sugar sources. However, the role of semiochemicals in mating behavior remains speculative. In this paper we summarized the research on mosquito ol

faction and chemical ecology in the past 20 years. The olfactory receptors in the sensilla of the antenna, maxillary palps and proboscis respond to the odors from the environment. The olfactory transduction and neural encoding and processing in the peripheral olfactory pathway start from the binding of odorant binding receptors (OBP) with odors. The changes in sensitivity and response profile of olfactory receptor neurons as a result of blood meal are involved in modulating behavior of mosquito females. The carbon dioxide, lactic acid and other odors released from animal and human skins attract mosquito upwind flight to the source in the host seeking. The volatiles from the oviposition site and the pheromone compounds originating from eggs, larvae and pupae have been found attractive to thegravid females. The plant volatiles especially the flower fragrance helps mosquito adults search for sugars. Current repellents act by interfering, directly or indirectly, with olfaction. Some repellents inhibit the mosquito orientation flight by impeding its olfaction. It could be promising to find the active substances in the odors from animals, human skins, plants or oviposition sites. The understanding of the olfactory mechanism can allow us to develop new and effective tools for mosquito surveillance and control.

Key words: Mosquito, semiochemicals, host seeking, oviposition, olfaction