Mosquitoes are harmful, disease-carrying vectors that pose significant publichealth risks worldwide. Aedes aegypti, known for transmitting Zika Virus, Dengue, andyellow fever, poses a threat in various climates, while Aedes triseriatus—native toWisconsin—transmits the La Crosse virus.While much is known about adult mosquito behavior, less is understood about thesensory behaviors of mosquito larvae. To address this gap, our lab is investigating thechemosensory behaviors of Ae. aegypti and Ae. triseriatus larvae, particularly in relation toforaging. We have refined protocols using the InVision device, a high-resolution camerasystem designed for tracking aquatic invertebrates, to monitor and quantify the behavior ofmosquito larvae in response to chemical gradients emitted from a point source.With these methodologies, our research now focuses on sensory behaviorvariations across all mosquito larval and pupal stages. The mosquito life cycle consists offour instar (larval) stages, followed by a pupal stage before emerging into adulthood. Ourprevious findings suggest that L1 Ae. triseriatus and Ae. aegypti larvae do not rely onchemosensory modalities to locate food. Preliminary results indicate that foragingbehavior increases in L2-L4 instars, suggesting a developmental shift in foraging strategiesas larvae progress through these stages.
