Maternal instincts: a review of the role of chemosensory cues and larval habitat conditions on oviposition site choice by gravid Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is a global vector of arboviruses, including those causing dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Effective management of Ae. aegypti populations remain challenging due to their anthropophilic feeding behavior, their exploitation of urban environments, their complex oviposition behavior, and their egg physiology. The characteristics of larval habitats can influence various aspects of larval development, thereby altering adult physiology and behavior. These include differences in blood-feeding behavior, reproductive capacity, and lifespan. Gravid females select oviposition sites based on a diverse array of visual, textural, chemical, and biological cues that attract/repel females from sites and/or stimulate/inhibit oviposition, including volatile organic compounds from microorganisms, detritus, conspecific/heterospecific larvae and adults, predator activity, and environmental factors. This review focuses on the chemosensory aspects of oviposition site selection. Understanding the effects of concentration-dependent chemical cues on oviposition behavior in gravid female Ae. aegypti offers critical insights into the ecology of this species. Integrating this knowledge into vector control strategies, particularly attract-and-kill ovitraps incorporating optimized attractants and larvicides, could enhance surveillance efficacy and reduce Ae. aegypti populations. As climates become more favorable and urbanization expands, Ae. aegypti’s geographic range is likely to expand, making it essential to leverage detailed behavioral and ecological insights to improve surveillance, vector management, and to mitigate arboviral disease risks globally.