Higher Odor Concentrations Research Articles

The effect of odors on the behavior of adult Aedes aegypti and some factors limiting responsiveness.

Caged adult Aedes aegypti aggregated at the source of ethyl ether soluble honey odors in relatively still air. Arrival at the source of odor was not random. The volatile substances stimulated locomotory activity in mosquitoes settled in the cage. The majority of these active individuals arrived at the odor source and did so within a mean period of 1.5 min. At the same time, arrivals at a visually similar, comparably situated control were rare. Insects probed at the odor source and remained in the area of highest odor concentration by turning at the boundary to a lower concentration. Habituation occurred within about 12 min of exposure to the odor and the aggregation was then dispersed.Male and female mosquitoes responded to honey odors equally well. Responsiveness increased with time of food deprivation and feeding raised the threshold of response.Mechanisms of orientation to the odor are discussed.