ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE OF N-HENEICOSANE, OVIPOSITION PHEROMONE OF AEDES AEGYPTI, ON AEDES ALBOPICTUS.

PAULA V. GONZALEZ; PAOLA A. GONZÁLEZ AUDINO; HÉCTOR M. MASUH

Conferencia; International Chemical Ecology Conference (ICEC) 2013; 2013

International Society of Chemical Ecology

 Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are highly anthropophilic mosquito species and potential vectors of dengue and yellow fever. The location of suitable sites for oviposition requires a set of visual, tactile and olfactory cues that interact with the female before laying their eggs. In this work we study the effect of n-heneicosane, known recognized oviposition pheromone of Ae. aegypti, on the olfactory receptors on the antennae of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus using electroantennographic detection coupled to gas chromatography (GC-EAD). We also analyzed the effect of this compound on the oviposition response of Ae. albopictus in order to determine whether n-heneicosane also influences its behavior. We observed a significant electroantennographic response to n-heneicosane in adult females of both species of mosquitoes and repellency at certain doses in the oviposition behaviour on Ae. Albopictus. Further  n- heneicosane was identified in cuticles of Ae. Albopictus larvae by GC-MS technique. We found that the oviposition behavior for both species is influenced by the existence of larvae of one specie in presence of the adult of the other. These results could determine whether this pheromone could be used in baited traps to improve monitoring on control strategies against both species of mosquitoes