72 - Understanding hay as an oviposition attractant in the laboratory and the field

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

5:00 PM - 5:10 PM PDT

Location: B119

Presenter(s)

Andrea V. Arce, PhD

PhD Candidate
Florida International University, Florida, United States

Co-Author(s)

KM

Kaylee Marrero, PhD Student

Florida International University, Florida, United States
OV

Oscar A. Valverde-Barrantes, Associate Professor

Florida International University, Florida, United States
MD

Matthew DeGennaro, Principal Investigator

Associate Professir
Florida International University, Florida, United States

Abstract: Hay-containing traps are the standard attractant for gravid Aedes aegypti surveillance due to its strong oviposition lure; however, preparation and limited accessibility have prompted necessity for replacement attractants like geosmin. Field studies in Puerto Rico and Miami-Dade show hay captures more females than geosmin and water. Due to the hay’s fermentation process, microbial communities and volatiles are altered. 16s rRNA sequencing will characterize the hay’s microbiome over weeks to identify biochemical factors driving hay attraction.