Evaluation of a CO₂-free commercial mosquito attractant to capture triatomines in the laboratory

Abstract

Efforts have been made to develop vertebrate odor-based attractants to lure hematophagous triatomines into traps. However, more work is needed to reach a practical, cheap, and efficient odor lure. We carried out attraction and capture tests in a dual-choice olfactometer and a pitfall trap. Here we report that a three-component, CO 2 -free, synthetic blend of vertebrate odor (consisting of ammonia, L(+) lactic acid and hexanoic acid, and known as Sweetscent  ) significantly induces 3 rd -instar Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma infestans nymphs to fall into the test capture-tube of the olfactometer. Blend constituents presented singly or in two-component blends did not evoke a response and, therefore, we propose that the insects respond specifically to the three-component blend in a synergistic way. When tested in a pitfall trap in an experimental arena, this blend induced capture in 37.5% of the lured traps, whereas 9% of the nymphs tested were captured in a single night. No insects were captured in control traps. Our work represents a proof-of-concept regarding capture of triatomines using host odor-based, CO 2 -free synthetic mixtures as lures for pitfall traps. CO 2 -free lures are more practical for field work than natural or CO 2 -containing synthetic blends. Journal of Vector Ecology 38 (2): 245-250. 2013.

Identification of Cattle-Derived Volatiles that Modulate the Behavioral Response of the Biting Midge Culicoides nubeculosus

“…. Accumulating evidence thus suggests that the olfactory systems of haematophagous insects have evolved convergently to respond to a number of generic host volatiles, and even blends of these (Guidobaldi and Guerenstein 2013), and that these may be exploited to increase trap captures for control and surveillance purposes across taxa. The generic mammalian volatile, 1-octen-3-ol has been assessed extensively as a behavioral attractant ofCulicoides biting midges, as well as of other haematophagous insects (Logan and Birkett 2007).…”

Widespread Trypanosoma cruzi infection in government working dogs along the Texas-Mexico border: Discordant serology, parasite genotyping and associated vectors

“…cruzi infection [ 7 ]. Their working environment could further be an attractant to the vector, where there is high vehicle traffic emitting CO 2 - a known attractant [ 23 ], bright lights at night, and concentrations of animals and people in otherwise rural areas. In order to provide a baseline for conducting clinical assessments and developing disease management strategies, we conducted a seroepidemiological investigation to quantify the prevalence of T .…”

Neuroethology of Olfactory-Guided Behavior and Its Potential Application in the Control of Harmful Insects

“…It is well-established that host odors, including CO 2 , are a key cue for host detection and orientation (van der Goes van Naters and Carlson, 2006 ; Guerenstein and Hildebrand, 2008 ; McMeniman et al, 2014 ; van Breugel and Dickinson, 2014 ; Reisenman and Riffell, 2015 ). Much work has been done on the attraction of harmful insects toward natural and synthetic host odors and its neurobiological bases (Guidobaldi et al, 2014 and references therein), information that sometimes has been used to develop odor baits for traps (e.g., Krockel et al, 2006 ; Ryelandt et al, 2011 ; Mukabana et al, 2012 ; Guidobaldi and Guerenstein, 2013 ). Importantly, manipulation of host-seeking behavior offers many opportunities to disrupt harmful insects.…”

“…Insects usually respond to specific mixtures of host odorants, even when they include ubiquitous (including non-host) odorants (Bruce and Pickett, 2011 ). Even when some constituents of those odor mixtures are essential to evoke a behavioral response (e.g., Geier et al, 1996 ; Guidobaldi and Guerenstein, 2013 ), in some cases certain components could have redundant roles and therefore, could be removed without decreasing attraction (e.g., Cha et al, 2008 ). Moreover, key components could be replaced without affecting attractiveness (Tasin et al, 2007 ).…”

“…As mentioned above, insects usually respond to specific host odor mixtures (e.g., Geier et al, 1999a ; Barrozo and Lazzari, 2004a ; Krockel et al, 2006 ). For example, triatomines are sensitive to various human compounds (e.g., CO 2 , lactic acid, ammonia, carboxylic acids; Guerenstein and Lazzari, 2009 ), and a mixture of ammonia, lactic acid, and pentanoic acid evokes attraction, whereas there is low or no attraction to the single constituents (Guidobaldi and Guerenstein, 2013 ). Furthermore, in aphids, individual constituents of an otherwise attractive blend can have repellent effects (Webster et al, 2010 ).…”