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Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

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Student Competition

Undergrad Poster Competition: MUVE, Forensic, Medical, and Veterinary Entomology and Vector Biology and Management

D3176: Differences in activity and sleep levels revealed across multiple lines in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Monday, November 11, 2024
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC
Poster Display Student Competition

Sleep is essential for the biological processes of many animal systems, including insects. Sleep is important for immunity, energy conservation, memory, and learning in insects. Using behavioral correlates, we have previously characterized sleep-like states in multiple species of mosquitoes.  We previously reported species-specific differences in sleep timing and amount in Aedes aegypti, Culex pipiens, and Anopheles stephensi, consistent with field observations. However, differences in activity and sleep levels among populations of the same species in Ae. aegypti is yet to be determined. Therefore, we quantified variations in activity and sleep among 17 populations of Ae. aegypti, the mosquito vector responsible for the transmission of yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. Our results show consistent diurnal activity among the populations, but differences exist in activity level, sleep amount, number of sleep bouts, and average sleep bout duration. Moreover, differences in ancestry, host preference, and human population density are associated with variations in activity and sleep parameters observed among the populations from West Africa. Findings from this study demonstrate that activity and sleep patterns in Ae. aegypti are consistent across many populations, while there are noticeable differences in their levels. Additionally, interactions with humans may have a significant impact on mosquito activity and sleep. The findings highlight how critical sleep is for the spread of disease among various Ae. aegypti populations.