Identification of human-derived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Logan, J.G., Birkett, M.A., Clark, S.J., Powers, S., Seal, N.J., Wadhams, L.J., Mordue, A.J. and Pickett, J.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8386-3770 2008. Identification of human-derived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Journal of Chemical Ecology 34 (3) , pp. 308-322. 10.1007/s10886-008-9436-0

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Abstract

It is known that human individuals show different levels of attractiveness to mosquitoes. In this study, we investigated the chemical basis for low attractiveness. We recorded behaviors of Aedes aegypti toward the hands of human volunteers and toward the volatile chemicals produced by their bodies. Some individuals, and their corresponding volatiles, elicited low upwind flight, relative attraction, and probing activity. Analyzing the components by gas chromatography coupled to electrophysiological recordings from the antennae of Aedes aegypti, enabled the location of 33 physiologically relevant compounds. The results indicated that higher levels of specific compounds may be responsible for decreased “attractiveness.” In behavioral experiments, five of the compounds caused a significant reduction in upwind flight of Aedes aegypti to attractive human hands. Thus, unattractiveness of individuals may result from a repellent, or attractant “masking,” mechanism.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0098-0331
Date of Acceptance:	23 January 2008
Last Modified:	18 Feb 2026 17:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184992

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