Aedes aegypti oviposition behavior mediated through odorant receptors

Aedes aegypti females are guided to suitable egg-laying sites by volatile odor cues derived from microbial activity and decaying plant matter in water sources. Compounds such as skatole and geosmin enhance oviposition, likely by signaling optimal conditions for larval development, while other volatiles deter females, contributing to spatial regulation of mosquito populations. In this study we describe the activation profiles of odorant receptors and assess the effects of their ligands on oviposition behavior in the context of the Orco mutant background.