A conserved odorant receptor underpins borneol-mediated repellency in culicine mosquitoes.

The use of essential oils derived from the camphor tree to repel mosquitoes is an ancient practice that originated in Southeast Asia and gradually spread to China and across Europe via the Maritime Silk Road. The olfactory mechanisms by which these oils elicit avoidance behavior are unclear. Here we show that plant bicyclic monoterpenoids and borneol specifically activate a neural pathway that originates in the orphan olfactory receptor neuron of the capitate peg sensillum in the maxillary palp, and projects to the mediodorsal glomerulus 3 in the antennal lobe.

Mosquito bite prevention through self-assembled cellulose nanocrystals.

Mosquitoes are the deadliest of all combined insects and animals affecting millions and killing hundreds or thousands of people each year. Existing protection methods however are limited and include volatile compounds that actively repel mosquitoes such as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) or different essential oils such as geraniol and citronella. Most are odorous compounds and require organic solvents for dispersion.

The ovipositor cue indole inhibits animal host attraction in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes.

Background: Mosquitoes are responsible for disease transmission worldwide. They possess the ability to discriminate between different ecological resources, including nectar sources, animal hosts and oviposition sites, a feature mediated by their olfactory system. Insect repellents, such as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (also called DEET), have been shown to activate and inhibit mosquito odorant receptors, resulting in behavioral modulation.