ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of the enantiomers of 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octyn-3-ol as attractants for mosquitoes associated with a freshwater swamp in Florida, USA

Submitted to: Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 17, 2007
Publication Date: December 1, 2007
Publisher's URL: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/mve
Reprint URL: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/mve/21/4
Citation: Kline, D.L., Allan, S.A., Bernier, U.R., Welch, C.H. 2007. Evaluation of the enantiomers of 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octyn-3-ol as attractants for mosquitoes associated with a freshwater swamp in Florida, USA. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 21(4) 323.

Interpretive Summary: A major emphasis of research by scientists in the Mosquito and Fly Research Unit at the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, is the development of surveillance technologies for mosquitoes. One aspect of this program is to identify new attractants and/or blends that will increase either the number of mosquito species or the quantity of a given species to traps. This current study evaluated the enantiomers (optical isomers) of two compounds (1-octen-3-ol and 1-octyn-3-ol) as single compounds and as blends to determine their efficacy as mosquito attractants. Results indicate that the R-enantiomer of each compound show promise alone or as blend to increase the attractancy of most mosquito species with Culex species being the exception. Further studies need to be conducted in different geographic regions and ecological habitats to verify these results against a greater diversity of mosquito species.

Technical Abstract: Field studies were conducted in wooded wetlands against natural populations of mosquitoes to determine their responses to the enantiomers of 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octyn-3-ol. The (R)-(+) isomer of octenol was generally more effective than the other isomers in attracting most mosquito species. Traps baited with the R-enantiomers of both compounds were more attractive than traps baited with carbon dioxide only or the S-enantiomers of both compounds. They also had similar patterns in what mosquito species were attracted to them. Traps baited with the S-enantiomers were slightly less or equally as attractive as the traps baited with carbon dioxide only.