The Effects of Sulcatone and Larval Crowding on Oviposition Site Selection of Aedes aegypti

Author/​Artist
Kouassi-Brou, Marilyn [Browse]
Format
Senior thesis
Language
English

Availability

Available Online

Details

Advisor(s)
McBride, Lindy [Browse]
Department
Princeton University. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology [Browse]
Certificate
Princeton University. Program in Global Health and Health Policy [Browse]
Class year
2017
Summary note
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a vector responsible for multiple diseases  globally, including Dengue fever and the Zika Virus. Olfactory cues are crucial in  both host seeking and oviposition site selection, allowing the species to survive in  human habitats and transmit arboviruses from one person to the next. Previous  studies have identified that the evolution of the mosquito’s human preference may  be attributed to an odorant receptor for sulcatone, a compound abundant in human  odor. Other works with the malaria vector mosquito suggest that sulcatone may  actually repulsive in the context of oviposition. Here, I developed a dual‐choice  oviposition bioassay in order to analyze the role that sulcatone and larval crowding  play in 3 variants of Ae. aegypti. Results suggest that sulcatone may be attractive in  isolation. Results also imply that gravid females are attracted to low densities of  larvae in the water, with attraction increasing to a point and then switching to  repulsion at higher densities.  Implications for vector control and the role that  sulcatone can play in gravid traps are discussed.
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