Chemosensory mechanisms of larval foraging and competitive advantage in the invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), and yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) are known to compete for resources during the larval stage, often resulting in the ecological displacement of Ae. aegypti by Ae. albopictus. The chemosensory system plays a pivotal role in larval foraging behavior and may contribute to the competitive advantage. Here, we employed comparative transcriptomics and functional characterization of odorant receptors (ORs) to investigate species-specific differences in larval olfaction. Notably, we uncovered functional variation within the conserved olfactory indole receptor clade, indicating distinct ecological adaptations across species and life stages. We also developed a novel approach to functionally characterize the larval sensory cone and mapped its receptor neuron projections to two key brain regions: the antennal lobe and the subesophageal ganglion. This study provides new insights into the molecular and neural basis of chemosensory-driven behavior in mosquito larvae and highlights the potential role of olfaction in shaping interspecies competition and ecological success.