# The olfactory neurobiology and chemical ecology of mosquito attraction to plant nutrient sources

## TL;DR

This review explores how mosquitoes are attracted to plant nutrients through smell and how this knowledge can improve mosquito control strategies.

## Contribution

The paper synthesizes current understanding of mosquito olfactory neurobiology and plant odours to guide new control methods.

## Key findings

- Mosquitoes are attracted to plant nutrients through specific volatile compounds.
- Neurogenetic tools can help identify olfactory receptors and neural circuits involved in mosquito-plant interactions.
- Insights from this research can improve synthetic lures and trapping technologies for mosquito control.

## Abstract

Invasive mosquito species are key vectors of arboviral diseases, like dengue, zika and chikungunya, posing significant public health challenges worldwide. These issues are worsened by urbanization, climate change and insecticide resistance, driving research into new control methods. Adult mosquitoes are attracted to plant nutrient sources essential for flight and reproduction. However, few studies have examined the odours emitted by these sources, and little is known about the olfactory neurobiology of mosquito–plant interactions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the broad classes of volatile compounds that modulate mosquito behaviour, focusing on the olfactory processes underlying mosquito responses to plant nutrient sources. We also discuss the application of neurogenetic tools for investigating the role of olfactory receptor genes and neural circuits in mosquito ecology. Finally, we explore how insights from these studies can inform and enhance mosquito control strategies, including developing synthetic lures for attractive toxic sugar baits and improved trapping and surveillance technologies. Defining the olfactory receptors, sensory neurons and neural circuits mediating attraction or repellency to plant odours is crucial for optimizing mosquito monitoring and control interventions.