A single receptor sends young female mosquitoes to flowers
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2026

11:06
Optogenetic Analysis of Behavior in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti
Published on: August 21, 2026
1School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK; Division of Agricultural Entomology, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Trends in Parasitology
|November 5, 2026
Abstract:
Female mosquitoes feed on nectar before switching to blood. Nalikkaramal et al. show that a single odorant receptor, Or117, detects floral camphor and is required for young Aedes aegypti females to find flowers. Or117 expression declines with age and mating. We discuss the implications of this apparent switch for vector control.

