Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Vision and Associated Electrophysiological Techniques

Abstract

Mosquitoes are considered the world's deadliest animal because of the pathogens they spread. Additionally, they are an unbearable nuisance in many areas. Visual stimuli play an important role in the mosquito life cycle, helping them find vertebrate hosts, floral nectar, and oviposition sites. Here, we review mosquito vision, including its influences on mosquito behavior, the photoreceptors involved, and mosquito spectral sensitivity, as well as provide an overview of techniques used for the analysis of mosquito vision, including electroretinograms, single-cell recordings, and the use of opsin-deficient mutants. We anticipate that this information will be useful for researchers studying mosquito physiology, evolution, ecology, and management.