Volatile phytochemicals as mosquito semiochemicals

Abstract

Plant biochemical processes result in the release of an array of volatile chemical substances into the environment, some of which are known to play important plant fitness enhancing functions, such as attracting pollinators, thermal tolerance of photosynthesis, and defense against herbivores. Cunningly, phytophagous insects have evolved mechanisms to utilize these volatiles to their own advantage, either to colonize a suitable host for feeding, reproduction and oviposition or avoid an unsuitable one. The volatile compounds involved in plant–insect chemical interactions have been widely exploited in the management of agricultural pests. On the other hand, use of plant volatiles in the management of medically important insects is limited, mainly due to paucity of information on their role in disease vector–plant interactions. To date, a total of 29 plant volatile compounds from various chemical classes, including phenols, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones and terpenes, have been identified as mosquito semiochemicals. In this review, we present highlights of mosquito–plant interactions, the available evidence of nectar feeding, with particular emphasis on sources of plant attractants, methods of plant volatile collection and the candidate plant volatile compounds that attract mosquitoes to nectar sources. We also highlight the potential application of these phytochemical attractants in integrated mosquito management.

Olfactory learning and chemical ecology of olfaction in disease vector mosquitoes: a life history perspective

“…Mosquitoes find carbohydrates by visiting plants that provide floral and extrafloral nectar, ripe fruits, honeydew, and tree sap [24] which also contain other nutrients such as amino acids. A wide range of volatile compounds are emitted by these sugar sources, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, phenols and terpenes [25], which are detected by the mosquito olfactory system (Figure 2). Despite their potential importance, the chemical identities and blends that mediate responses by mosquitoes to nectar resources remains largely uncharacterized.…”

Electrochemical Method to Quantify Antioxidants Employing Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity, CUPRAC

“…1 For this reason there is a particular interest in polyphenolic compounds, because they are the most commonly found in the nature. 2 For example, Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) and its derivatives can be present in foods and wines, and it is also used as food additive like natural antioxidant. 1 In the other hand, flavonoids are other group of antioxidants broadly distributed in vegetables and fruits; many of these compounds present activity as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-cancer 3 and anti-hemorrhagic.…”

A floral‐derived attractant for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

“…Acetophenone is the first plant‐derived compound that has been shown to elicit a positive flight behavior in Ae. aegypti , as previous works on floral compounds only evaluated electroantennogram recordings of potential floral attractants (Nyasembe & Torto, ). However, Jhumur et al.…”

“…In the case of Ae. aegypti , a recent review by Nyasembe & Torto () about plant‐derived semiochemicals for mosquitoes states that flower compounds have been identified and evaluated by electroantennography, but no further behavioral work on their role as attractants has been done.…”