A Behavioral Assay to Quantify Odor-Guided Thermotaxis with under Semi-Field Conditions.

The African malaria mosquito is strongly attracted to human body odor and skin temperature. Quantitative behavioral assays suitable for use in semi-field environments with this nocturnal mosquito species are essential to gain improved insights into sensory biology, the mechanistic basis of mosquito attraction to humans, and host preference. In this protocol, we describe steps for engineering equipment for a novel behavioral assay for , which we have termed the odor-guided thermotaxis assay (OGTA). The OGTA uses infrared videography to quantify landings of female on an aluminum platform heated to human skin temperature that can be baited with volatile odorants such as carbon dioxide or human whole body odor. The OGTA facilitates high-content recordings of landing behavior during odor-guided thermotaxis under naturalistic semi-field conditions without the requirement for domestic power.