An Air-Flow Olfactometer for Distinguishing Between Oviposition Attractants and Stimulants of Mosquitoes

Abstract

An air-flow olfactometer is described for classifying chemicals that elicit oviposition responses in mosquitoes as attractants or stimulants. Mosquitoes can respond to either of two air streams, one drawn over a test substance and the other over distilled water, and become trapped after passing through plastic screen funnels, to reach the vapor sources. This trapping principle is helpful for studying the behavior of mosquitoes that oviposit in the dark. The olfactometer is portable and can be transferred easily from one suitably modified insect cage to another.