32 - Olfactory insights into mosquito-avian interactions: leveraging bird odors for targeted surveillance

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

2:35 PM - 2:45 PM PDT

Location: B119

Presenter(s)

NR

Nalany A. Richardson (she/her/hers)

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Georgia, South Carolina, United States

Co-Author(s)

DS

Danica M. Shannon, n/a

Graduate Student
University of Georgia, Georgia, United States
SN

Skyler Nichols, n/a

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Georgia, Georgia, United States
MB

Mary Beard, n/a

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Georgia, Georgia, United States
DP

Daniel Peach, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Georgia, Georgia, United States

Abstract: Mosquito attraction to vertebrates is multimodal, involving cues such as breath, odor, and temperature. Ornithophilic mosquitoes may vector bird-derived arboviruses, and are monitored using sentinel chickens, yet information on mosquito–avian olfactory interactions remain poorly understudied. We present field data showing increased capture rates in traps baited with synthetic chicken odors versus pentane and CO₂ controls. We aim to expand avian odor collections to reveal species-specific attractants, advancing understanding of mosquito-avian attractants and improving mosquito surveillance.