Exploiting Sugar Feeding Behaviors For Mosquito Control

dc.contributor.authorFryzlewicz, Lauren Hopeen
dc.contributor.committeechairLahondere, Chloe Audeen
dc.contributor.committeememberPaulson, Sally L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberVinauger Tella, Clementen
dc.contributor.departmentBiochemistryen
dc.date.accessioned2022-12-18T07:00:07Zen
dc.date.available2022-12-18T07:00:07Zen
dc.date.issued2021-06-25en
dc.description.abstractMosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet killing about a million people a year. These insects are competent vectors of multiple pathogens (e.g., Plasmodium sp, filarial worms, and arboviruses). In most species, females are blood feeders, and must consume a blood meal to complete a gonotrophic cycle. Extensive research has been conducted on hematophagy and host-seeking behaviors, but relatively little is known about phytophagy. Sugar feeding is an essential aspect of mosquito biology. Both male and female mosquitoes must consume sugar as a primary fuel source. Mosquitoes use olfactory and visual cues among other cues to find suitable food sources. Abiotic factors, such as temperature and humidity, have been shown to impact mosquito behaviors, including sugar feeding. Recently, sugar feeding has been identified as a promising control target for multiple species of mosquitoes. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs) attract both male and females through the use of plant derived volatiles. In this work, we first examined the effects of temperature and humidity on the survival of sugar fed Aedes aegypti. We showed that sugar feeding greatly increases longevity in optimal conditions and that humidity impacted survival while temperature less so. Second, we aimed at developing an ATSB for controlling Aedes j. japonicus mosquitoes. Overall, this work sheds light on the importance of abiotic factors and sugar feeding on mosquito survival and lays the groundwork for controlling an invasive mosquito species.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralMosquitoes are the deadliest organisms on the planet killing about a million people each year due to the multitude of pathogens they may transmit (e.g., malaria parasites, Zika virus, dengue virus). Female mosquitoes transmit pathogens by taking blood meals to obtain essential nutrients needed to develop eggs. If knowledge on host-seeking behavior and blood-feeding is extensive, comparatively less is known about sugar feeding. Sugar feeding is an important behavior displayed by both male and female mosquitoes to obtain energy for flying, reproduction, and survival. Mosquitoes feed on a variety of sugar sources including plant nectar and decaying fruits. They use multiple different cues in order to locate suitable meals including olfaction and vision. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity affect mosquito activity, dehydration, and sugar feeding. In the present work, we first examined the effects of temperature and humidity on survival in the major disease vector species, Aedes aegypti. As the global temperatures are increasing, it is essential to better understand how mosquitoes adapt and deal with environmental stressors in a changing world. We then aimed at exploiting sugar feeding behavior by developing a novel method of control for another invasive mosquito species, Aedes j. japonicus. Together, these results help us have a better understanding of mosquito biology and ecology which is crucial for predicting future distribution of invasive species and designing new control strategies.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:31513en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/112941en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAedes aegyptien
dc.subjectAedes j. japonicusen
dc.subjectinvasive speciesen
dc.subjectdisease vector controlen
dc.subjectnectar feedingen
dc.subjectenvironmental temperatureen
dc.subjectrelative humidityen
dc.subjectATSBen
dc.titleExploiting Sugar Feeding Behaviors For Mosquito Controlen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiochemistryen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen

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