Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites
Abstract Where a female mosquito lays her eggs creates the conditions for reproductive success. Here we identify a communal behavior among ovipositing female mosquitoes. When choosing equal breeding sites, gravid Aedes aegypti aggregate more often than expected. This aggregation occurs when water co...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05830-5 |
| _version_ | 1797273548188811264 |
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| author | Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva Silvia Cabal Kristian Lopez Jean Boloix Brian Garcia Rodriguez Kaylee M. Marrero Anthony J. Bellantuono Matthew DeGennaro |
| author_facet | Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva Silvia Cabal Kristian Lopez Jean Boloix Brian Garcia Rodriguez Kaylee M. Marrero Anthony J. Bellantuono Matthew DeGennaro |
| author_sort | Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Where a female mosquito lays her eggs creates the conditions for reproductive success. Here we identify a communal behavior among ovipositing female mosquitoes. When choosing equal breeding sites, gravid Aedes aegypti aggregate more often than expected. This aggregation occurs when water contact is restricted and does not require the presence of eggs. Instead, the aggregation is regulated by the number of females present at the breeding site. Using assays with both occupied and empty oviposition sites, we show that the Orco olfactory co-receptor and a carbon dioxide receptor, Gr3, detect the presence of mosquitoes. orco mutants aggregate more often in empty sites, suggesting attractive olfactory cues influence females to associate with one another. Gr3 mutant females do not prefer either site, suggesting that the CO2 receptor is necessary to evaluate mosquito population density at breeding sites. Further, raising CO2 levels is sufficient to cause wild-type mosquitoes to avoid empty oviposition sites. Our results demonstrate that female mosquitoes can regulate their own population density at breeding sites using attractive and repellent communal cues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:45:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afcdbb6efead47a3aad88bf4c005c1d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:45:58Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-afcdbb6efead47a3aad88bf4c005c1d32024-03-05T19:59:53ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-01-017111810.1038/s42003-024-05830-5Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sitesAndre Luis Costa-da-Silva0Silvia Cabal1Kristian Lopez2Jean Boloix3Brian Garcia Rodriguez4Kaylee M. Marrero5Anthony J. Bellantuono6Matthew DeGennaro7Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityAbstract Where a female mosquito lays her eggs creates the conditions for reproductive success. Here we identify a communal behavior among ovipositing female mosquitoes. When choosing equal breeding sites, gravid Aedes aegypti aggregate more often than expected. This aggregation occurs when water contact is restricted and does not require the presence of eggs. Instead, the aggregation is regulated by the number of females present at the breeding site. Using assays with both occupied and empty oviposition sites, we show that the Orco olfactory co-receptor and a carbon dioxide receptor, Gr3, detect the presence of mosquitoes. orco mutants aggregate more often in empty sites, suggesting attractive olfactory cues influence females to associate with one another. Gr3 mutant females do not prefer either site, suggesting that the CO2 receptor is necessary to evaluate mosquito population density at breeding sites. Further, raising CO2 levels is sufficient to cause wild-type mosquitoes to avoid empty oviposition sites. Our results demonstrate that female mosquitoes can regulate their own population density at breeding sites using attractive and repellent communal cues.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05830-5 |
| spellingShingle | Andre Luis Costa-da-Silva Silvia Cabal Kristian Lopez Jean Boloix Brian Garcia Rodriguez Kaylee M. Marrero Anthony J. Bellantuono Matthew DeGennaro Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites Communications Biology |
| title | Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| title_full | Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| title_fullStr | Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| title_short | Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| title_sort | female aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05830-5 |
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