Evaluating the synergistic effects of anisaldehyde and other three widely recognized mosquito-attracting agents in urban parks

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The results indicate that the combinations of ultraviolet light + CO2 and ultraviolet light + anisaldehyde were particularly effective in attracting mosquitoes, with the number of mosquitoes attracted per trap reaching 182.1 and 74.9, respectively. While the substantial broad-spectrum for 1-octen-3-ol was lower than that of anisaldehyde, it exhibited superior mosquito-specific attraction, rendering it suitable for monitoring mosquito density. Conversely, anisaldehyde is more optimal as a mosquito-killing attractant. The 5 g dosage of the anisaldehyde-ethylene vinyl acetate sustained-release agent (AEVASRA) significantly enhanced the response of mosquitoes to the trapping device under outdoor conditions, with an effective duration of 40 days. Consequently, it may serve as a long-term and stable mosquito attractant. The evaluation of the synergistic effects of multiple attraction agents has the potential to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient development of mosquito trapping devices, and for the prevention and control of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes Attractants Anisaldehyde Traps Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction In recent years, the risk of vector-borne diseases has increased due to a number of factors, including climate change, international trade, and urbanization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases annually, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths (WHO, 2024). In response to this growing threat, the WHO launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative in 2024, which aims to "Preparing for the next pandemic tackling mosquito-borne viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential". Mosquitoes are considered key vectors for transmitting various diseases, and such as, they pose a significant threat to human health through the pathogens they spread, including malaria, dengue fever, and the Zika virus (WHO, 2024). Furthermore, the lack of effective drugs and vaccines for most mosquito-borne infectious diseases emphasis the critical importance of mosquito prevention and control measures in managing these health risks (Achee et al. 2019). Now, the utilization of mosquito attractants in the management of mosquito populations has been demonstrated to be a valuable strategy for mitigating the spread of vector-borne diseases (Tchouassi et al. 2019). The employment of attractants in mosquito traps has shown considerable promise (Dennett, 2004; Achee et al. 2019). Specifically, anisaldehyde has been evidenced to attract mosquitoes at concentrations ranging from 6% to 96%, yielding an average capture rate of 18.2% (Hao et al. 2013). In comparison, under similar experimental conditions, human attractants yield an average capture rate of 31.2%, while 1-octen-3-ol and lactic acid exhibit capture rates of 11.4% and 10.1% (Hao et al. 2013). In most cases, the testing of potential attractants that can be applied to mosquito traps has been focused on single compounds (Gallagher et al. 2008; Abdullah et al. 2015). However, it has been observed that some of these compounds exhibit lower levels of attraction in bioassays, yet demonstrate increased attractiveness when incorporated into binary mixtures, trinary mixtures, or other combinations (Bernier et al. 2007). Consequently, based on the research results were reported by Hao et al. (2012, 2013), anisaldehyde, CO₂, 1-octen-3-ol, and ultraviolet light were selected for experimental evaluation of mosquito attraction. The objective of this study was to assess the synergistic effects of various mosquito-attracting agents in the outdoors, and it was hypothesized that the results would provide a scientific guidance for the development and application of innovative mosquito-attracting systems in future integrated vector management programs. Materials and Methods Experimental sites and mosquito attracting traps The present study was conducted at the Xinjiangwan City Wetland Park in Shanghai (121°30'19.51" E, 31°20'15.22" N). This park encompasses a diverse ecological environment, including forest-shrub areas, woodlands, and wetlands, thereby providing a habitat that closely resembles the original ecosystem. It serves as a natural ecological park within the urban landscape. The experiment was conducted during the period of peak mosquito density period, and the prevailing weather conditions were meticulously recorded (Temperature: 27.50 ± 1.57 °C, Rainfall: 31.13 ± 10.62 mm, Wind speed: 8.93 ± 0.44 m/s). The study utilized two types of traps: the fully automatic high-efficiency CO₂ mosquito trap (Model: WJ-C, Shenzhen Longrui Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) (Fig. 1 A) and the ultraviolet light mosquito trap (Model: Gongfuxiaoshuai, Wuhan Jixing Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China) (Fig. 1 B). The ultraviolet light trap operates at a wavelength of 370 nm and is designated as a mosquito monitoring trap by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Reagents The following reagents were utilized in this study: anisaldehyde (Rhawn, R003195, 500 mL, 99%, CAS: 123-11-5, Shanghai Xiyu Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), 1-octen-3-ol (Rhawn, R001969, 250 mL, 98%, CAS: 3391-86-4, Shanghai Xiyu Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), CO₂ (purity ≥ 99.99%, Shanghai Puli Gas Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (Product number: V33121, vinyl acetate content: 33%, particle size: 2-3 mm, Asia Polymer Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China). The preparation of the attractant involved the extraction of 1 mL of undiluted anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol solutions, which were then distributed evenly on filter paper with a diameter of 15 cm. These filter papers were then suspended in the center of a 17 L vacuum desiccator, where they were left to naturally evaporate for a period of 2 h. Once this process was complete, the filter papers were set aside for future use. The preparation of the sustained-release attractant involved the amalgamation of anisaldehyde and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin in a weight ratio of 1:2. This mixture was then placed in a water bath at 65°C and stirred for a duration of 2 h. It was observed that anisaldehydes were fully absorbed by the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. Following a natural evaporation period of 2 h, anisaldehyde-ethylene-vinyl acetate sustained-release agent (AEVASRA) granules were formulated. Experimental methods The deployment of mosquito trapping instruments was conducted from June to September 2024 in habitats conducive to the survival and reproduction of mosquitoes. The CO 2 mosquito trap utilized the attraction of mosquitoes to carbon dioxide, while the ultraviolet light mosquito trap employed the attraction of ultraviolet light. The trapping was conducted continuously from one hour after sunset to one hour after sunrise the following day. The traps were positioned in secluded, wind-sheltered locations that offered a broad ground surface and were situated away from artificial light sources. The distance between the CO₂ mosquito trap and the ultraviolet light mosquito trap was more than 50 m, and the height of the mosquito traps was 1.5 m above the ground. The traps were set up in the evening and collected the following morning. The total number of insects and mosquitoes captured by each trap was recorded at three-day intervals. The experiment was repeated three times, with a minimum interval of one week between experiments of the same batch, in order to minimize variations in insect density caused by seasonal fluctuations in mosquito populations. It is also notable that the CO₂ flow rate was controlled at 0.3 L/min. Mosquito trapping with attractants: In a single-factor experiment, the carrier traps of the anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol attractants were of the same type as the ultraviolet light mosquito trap. The ultraviolet light was deactivated, and only the fan was activated during the experiment. The attractants were placed in the aforementioned mosquito trapping devices. In the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the CO 2 and ultraviolet light mosquito traps were utilized, along with other experimental operations and conditions. The experiment involved the use of sustained-release attractants, with varying dosages of the AEVASRA (1 g, 5 g and 10 g) being utilized in the ultraviolet light mosquito trap. The outdoor trapping experiments were conducted after the AEVASRA had been stored under natural conditions for 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 days. The experimental methods employed were consistent with those described in the literature on mosquito trapping with attractants. Each dosage of the sustained-release attractant was replicated three times, along with other experimental operations and conditions. Data analysis The data were organized using Excel (Version 2019), and subsequently analyzed by Tukey's methods using SPSS (Version 13.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Figure production was conducted using OriginPro software (Version 2024b, OriginLab Co., USA). Results Mosquito attracting effects under different attracting agent treatments As shown in Fig. 2, the mosquito-attracting effects exhibited significant differences across the various treatments. In the single-factor mosquito trapping experiment, CO 2 demonstrated the most pronounced mosquito-attracting effect, with an average attraction of 58.1 mosquitoes per trap. The mosquito-attracting effect of ultraviolet light was secondary, attracting an average of 42.5 mosquitoes per trap. The mosquito-attracting effects of anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol were comparatively negligible, with an average attraction of 12.2 mosquitoes per trap and 5.0 mosquitoes per trap, respectively. In the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the most effective treatment was the combination of ultraviolet light and CO₂, which attracted an average of 182.1 mosquitoes per trap. The synergistic effects of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde were observed to be the second most effective, with an average attraction of 74.9 mosquitoes per trap, nevertheless, it was more effective than the CO 2 treatment. However, when anisaldehyde or 1-octen-3-ol was added to the ultraviolet light and CO₂, the synergistic effects of attractiveness were diminished, with an average of 27.2 mosquitoes per trap and 51.4 mosquitoes per trap, respectively. This decline in attraction was more pronounced when compared to the synergistic effects of CO 2 and ultraviolet light, with an average reduction of 85.1% and 71.8%, respectively. These results indicate that the synergistic effects of ultraviolet light with CO₂ and ultraviolet light with anisaldehyde are the most effective for attracting mosquitoes. Broad-spectrum insect-attracting and mosquito-specific attracting properties under different attracting agent treatments As shown in Fig. 3 A, the broad-spectrum insect-attracting properties (BSIAP) were significant differences across various treatments. In the single-factor insect trapping experiment, the highest BSIAP was observed in the ultraviolet light treatment, which attracted an average of 245.8 insects per trap. In the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the synergistic effects of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde were the best BSIAP, with an average of 334.5 insects per trap. It is notable that the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde on insect attraction increased by 26.5% and 87.2%, compared to the attraction generated by each factor acting alone. The BSIAP, which was the result of the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light and CO₂, attracted an average of 238.7 insects per trap (Fig. 3 A). The mosquito-specific attracting properties (MSAP) were calculated by the average number of mosquitoes trapped relative to the average total number of insects trapped. As shown in Fig. 3 B, MSAP were found to be significant differences across various treatments. The highest MSAP values were observed for 1-octen-3-ol, CO₂, and the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light with CO₂, which yielded values of 71.4%, 75.2%, and 76.3%, respectively. Synergy-fold of composite mosquito attraction by different attracting agents As shown in Fig. 4 A, the synergy-fold of ultraviolet light in relation to the chemical attractants anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂ were 1.48, 0.95, and 2.92. Correspondingly, Fig. 4 B demonstrates that the synergy-fold of the chemical attractants anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂ relation to ultraviolet light were 2.66, 0.56, and 2.40, respectively. These results indicate that the combined application of physical and chemical attracting agents can contribute to synergistic efficiency. Mosquito attracting effects of the AEVASRA As demonstrated in Figure 5 A, the mosquito-attracting effects of the AEVERA exhibited significant variations at three dosages. At a dosage of 5 g, the average total number of trapped mosquitoes per trap was recorded as 206.6. No significant differences were observed in the average number of mosquitoes attracted by doses of 1 g, 5 g, and 10 g on the 10th, 20th, and 60th days for the AEVASRA. Subsequent to 40 days of utilization, the mean number of mosquitoes attracted by the 1 g, 5 g, and 10 g doses were 46.7, 82.3, and 78.3 per trap, respectively. Subsequent to 80 days of utilization, the mean number of mosquitoes attracted by the 1 g dose (12.3 mosquitoes per trap) was significantly lower than that of the 5 g (42.0 mosquitoes per trap) and 10 g (45.3 mosquitoes per trap) doses. No significant difference was observed between the 5 g and 10 g doses (Fig. 5 B). These findings suggest that a 5 g dose of the AEVASRA is recommended under natural conditions, with a suggested optimal continuous usage period of 40 days. Discussion In this study, the plant-derived attractant anisaldehyde was found to diminish the attracting effect of CO 2 , suggesting that the simultaneous application of plant and animal-derived odor attractants may reduce their overall attracting efficiency. This outcome is consistent with the findings reported by Nyasembe et al. (2014), which indicated that the addition of plant attractants to CO 2 decreases the attracting effect on both male mosquitoes and blood-fed female mosquitoes. Notably, the combination of ultraviolet light and carbon dioxide exhibited a decline in attractiveness when anisaldehyde or 1-octen-3-ol was integrated, suggesting that the presence of excessive attractant information may interfere with the behavioural decision-making process of mosquitoes. Alternatively, this decline could be attributed to a potential antagonistic effect between different attractants. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. It is important to note that the absence of gender-specific data on the captured mosquitoes may have influenced the evaluation of the attracting effect to some extent. Given that plant-derived attractants exert differential effects on mosquitoes of varying genders and physiological states, the effectiveness of attractants should be assessed not solely by the total capture quantity or absolute number, but also by considering the gender and physiological state of female mosquitoes (Owino 2021). Furthermore, previous research has shown that 1-octen-3-ol exhibits strong attractiveness specifically to Aedes albopictus (Roiz et al. 2016), and has relatively weak attractiveness to Aedes aegypti and Culex mosquitoes (Kline 2007; Majeed et al. 2017). This study conducted field trapping experiments solely in an urban park. Given the relatively homogeneous species composition of urban mosquitoes, with Culex pipiens pallens being the predominant species, we refrained from performing statistical analyses on the species of mosquitoes captured by the attractants. Future research will investigate the gender and species compositions of mosquitoes attracted by anisaldehyde across various habitats. In this study, the synergistic enhancement factors among various attracting elements were computed, thereby further substantiating the existence of a synergistic interaction between physical factors (ultraviolet light) and chemical factors (anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂). It is noteworthy that the enhancement factor of ultraviolet light concerning CO₂ is the highest at 2.92-fold, while the enhancement factor of CO₂ in relation to ultraviolet light is also considerable at 2.40-fold. These findings reinforce the conclusion that the combination of ultraviolet light and CO 2 constitutes an effective pairing for attracting mosquitoes. And a significant synergistic effect was observed between anisaldehyde and ultraviolet light. The limited diffusion range of volatile chemical substances is a possible explanation for these phenomena. Mosquitoes located further away rely on their phototactic responses to approach the attracting source, with the odorant serving as a critical determinant guiding mosquitoes into traps (Guindo et al. 2021). They employ both olfactory and visual cues to locate hosts from long distances. Ultraviolet light enhances the visibility of trapping devices and may stimulate the phototactic behaviour of mosquitoes (Muir et al. 1992). Furthermore, the presence of CO₂, which mimics the respiration of hosts, has been shown to attract mosquitoes searching for a blood source (Takken 1991). Plant volatiles, such as anisaldehyde, have been found to draw mosquitoes towards nectar-producing plants, where they acquire the essential energy for their life activities (Takken et al. 1998). These suggests that various attracting factors can interact through distinct mechanisms, thereby increasing their overall attractiveness to mosquitoes. Furthermore, the findings of this study specifically, the ability of ultraviolet light to significantly enhance the field efficacy of chemical attractants have important implications for the design and development of mosquito trapping technologies and equipment. The volatility and stability of odor attractants are typically limited factors in terms of their long-term effectiveness in field conditions (Adhiambo et al. 2024). However, the incorporation of these attractants into polymer beads has been shown to extend the duration of release and enhance the stability of the attractants, thereby improving the effectiveness of mosquito attraction. The present study explored the mosquito attracting effect and persistence of the AEVASRA. The results demonstrated that a 5 g dosage of the AEVASRA significantly increased the response rate of mosquitoes to the capture device under field conditions, exhibiting excellent mosquito-attracting capabilities. Moreover, the persistence period of the attractant could extend up to 40 days, indicating that the AEVASRA can serve as a long-lasting and stable mosquito attractant, presenting a novel strategy for mosquito attraction and control. Conclusion In summary, the combinations of ultraviolet light + CO 2 and ultraviolet light + anisaldehyde were particularly effective in attracting mosquitoes. While 1-octen-3-ol has a narrower BSIAP compared to anisaldehyde, it possesses a superior MSAP, rendering it a more suitable monitor for the density of mosquitoes. Conversely, anisaldehyde demonstrates greater potential as a mosquito-killing agent and exhibits promising application potential. It was hypothesized that the results would provide scientific guidance for the development and application of innovative mosquito-attracting systems in future integrated vector management program. Declarations Ethical approval The data and analysis of this study are publicly available and do not require ethical approval. Competing interests All authors declare no competing financial interest. Author contributions statement Y. H.: Formal analysis, investigation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing; H. L.: Data collation and investigation; B. S.: investigation; H. H.: Conceptualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, funding acquisition. Funding This work was supported by foundation of China (Grant number: A**7). Data availability The datasets used or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Clinical trial number Not applicable. References https://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases. Abdullah AA, Altaf-Ul-Amin M, Ono N, Sato T, Sugiura T, Morita AH, Katsuragi T, Muto A, Nishioka T, Kanaya S (2015) Development and mining of a volatile organic compound database. Biomed Res. Int. 139254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/139254 Achee NL, Grieco JP, Vatandoost H, Seixas G, Pinto J, Ching-Ng L, Martins AJ, Juntarajumnong W, Corbel V, Gouagna C, David JP, Logan JG, Orsborne J, Marois E, Devine GJ, Vontas J (2019) Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 13(1), e0006822. 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Sci. 286(1914), 20192136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2136 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 24 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 17 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 17 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 17 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 16 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 15 Sep, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 15 Sep, 2025 First submitted to journal 03 Sep, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7531010","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":576171620,"identity":"ddddca1d-922c-4468-ac96-75f0890758e9","order_by":0,"name":"Yunchuan He","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA0UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAyidAMSMDxIqbEjTwmzw4EwaaVrYJB+2HSKsxZy9gU2ad4ddnsHxs8cqEtgOMPC3dyfg1WLZcwCo5UxyscGZvLQbCTx3GCTOnN2A32E3EoBa2g4kbjiQY3YjQeIZg4FELgEt9x9AtZx/Y1aQYHCYCC03GKBabuSYMSQkEKPlTAKz5dy25MSZN94YSyQcSOMh7JfjBxhvvG2zS+w7n2P48ec/Gzn+9l78WhgY+L9IIHN5CCgHA+YPxKgaBaNgFIyCEQwAY+hMHc6YJ6UAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Naval Medical Center, PLA","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yunchuan","middleName":"","lastName":"He","suffix":""},{"id":576171621,"identity":"6f3a1d9a-267d-4cd7-bac0-8f1ecef38d67","order_by":1,"name":"Hongyan Lyu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Naval Medical Center, PLA","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hongyan","middleName":"","lastName":"Lyu","suffix":""},{"id":576171622,"identity":"5c05b5ac-f1f6-4b70-a786-2873e3cb75ff","order_by":2,"name":"Bin Sun","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Naval Medical Center, PLA","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bin","middleName":"","lastName":"Sun","suffix":""},{"id":576171623,"identity":"6cae02bc-ea08-4477-9d75-814df59a3d48","order_by":3,"name":"Huiling Hao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Naval Medical Center, PLA","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Huiling","middleName":"","lastName":"Hao","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-04 01:53:08","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7531010/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7531010/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01850-2","type":"published","date":"2026-04-24T15:57:09+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":100681473,"identity":"41acb323-1423-43d9-96a6-15b6c7b75ea6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 12:11:16","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":2208850,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMosquito attracting traps. A: CO₂ mosquito trap. B: Ultraviolet light mosquito trap. Figures were taken using interchangeable lens digital camera (Model: ILCE-6300, Sony (China) Co., Ltd.).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/231c09f49abaadf496563564.png"},{"id":100681414,"identity":"cf621f3f-ab8b-457a-8100-74dafa10ec16","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 12:10:22","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":93174,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eAverage number of mosquitoes trapped under different attracting agent treatments. Lowercase letters denote significant differences at the 0.05 level. A: Ultraviolet light; B: Anisaldehyde; C: 1-Octen-3-ol; D: CO₂; A + B: Ultraviolet light + Anisaldehyde; A + C: Ultraviolet light + 1-Octen-3-ol; A + D: Ultraviolet light + CO₂; A + B + D: Ultraviolet light + Anisaldehyde + CO₂; A + C + D: Ultraviolet light + 1-Octen-3-ol + CO₂. Similar designations apply below.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/ab3f7dd230a852d406ae29e9.png"},{"id":100681417,"identity":"23f9294e-bc7f-4a49-bd71-495c4bfb2f43","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 12:10:36","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":134586,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBSIAP and MSAP under different attracting agent treatments. A: BSIAP across various attracting agent treatments. B: MSAP among different attracting agent treatments. Lowercase letters denote significant differences at the 0.05 significance level. The interpretation of the capital letters on the abscissa is consistent with that in Fig. 2.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/2a85e5975a4368253e37a0f8.png"},{"id":100681636,"identity":"3f6690c7-d5cc-4f0e-bd4c-8b113101809a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 12:13:28","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":84918,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSynergy-fold of composite mosquito attraction by different attracting agents. A: Synergy-fold of composite mosquito attraction of ultraviolet light on chemical attractants. B: Synergy-fold of composite mosquito attraction of chemical attractants on ultraviolet light. The interpretations of the capital letters on the abscissa are consistent with those in Fig. 2.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/9c03a3a5f81daba011e2ac4d.png"},{"id":100681461,"identity":"bb4337e8-c890-402b-b331-8b6ce4397876","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 12:11:12","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":200955,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMosquito attracting effects of the AEVSARA.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/552fe62c54b8408aa9cbfde2.png"},{"id":107928559,"identity":"4e6a190a-0792-4332-b67f-eebb70b95046","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-27 16:11:19","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3315250,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7531010/v1/4cf4b322-7051-4f5d-9fef-21b962136c7f.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Evaluating the synergistic effects of anisaldehyde and other three widely recognized mosquito-attracting agents in urban parks","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, the risk of vector-borne diseases has increased due to a number of factors, including climate change, international trade, and urbanization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases annually, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths (WHO, 2024). In response to this growing threat, the WHO launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative in 2024, which aims to \u0026quot;Preparing for the next pandemic tackling mosquito-borne viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential\u0026quot;. Mosquitoes are considered key vectors for transmitting various diseases, and such as, they pose a significant threat to human health through the pathogens they spread, including malaria, dengue fever, and the Zika virus (WHO, 2024). Furthermore, the lack of effective drugs and vaccines for most mosquito-borne infectious diseases emphasis the critical importance of mosquito prevention and control measures in managing these health risks (Achee et al. 2019).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, the utilization of mosquito attractants in the management of mosquito populations has been demonstrated to be a valuable strategy for mitigating the spread of vector-borne diseases (Tchouassi et al. 2019). The employment of attractants in mosquito traps has shown considerable promise (Dennett, 2004; Achee et al. 2019). Specifically, anisaldehyde has been evidenced to attract mosquitoes at concentrations ranging from 6% to 96%, yielding an average capture rate of 18.2% (Hao et al. 2013). In comparison, under similar experimental conditions, human attractants yield an average capture rate of 31.2%, while 1-octen-3-ol and lactic acid exhibit capture rates of 11.4% and 10.1% (Hao et al. 2013). In most cases, the testing of potential attractants that can be applied to mosquito traps has been focused on single compounds (Gallagher et al. 2008; Abdullah et al. 2015). However, it has been observed that some of these compounds exhibit lower levels of attraction in bioassays, yet demonstrate increased attractiveness when incorporated into binary mixtures, trinary mixtures, or other combinations (Bernier et al. 2007). Consequently, based on the research results were reported by Hao et al. (2012, 2013), anisaldehyde, CO₂, 1-octen-3-ol, and ultraviolet light were selected for experimental evaluation of mosquito attraction. The objective of this study was to assess the synergistic effects of various mosquito-attracting agents in the outdoors, and it was hypothesized that the results would provide a scientific guidance for the development and application of innovative mosquito-attracting systems in future integrated vector management programs.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperimental sites and mosquito attracting traps\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present study was conducted at the Xinjiangwan City Wetland Park in Shanghai (121\u0026deg;30\u0026apos;19.51\u0026quot; E, 31\u0026deg;20\u0026apos;15.22\u0026quot; N). This park encompasses a diverse ecological environment, including forest-shrub areas, woodlands, and wetlands, thereby providing a habitat that closely resembles the original ecosystem. It serves as a natural ecological park within the urban landscape. The experiment was conducted during the period of peak mosquito density period, and the prevailing weather conditions were meticulously recorded (Temperature: 27.50 \u0026plusmn; 1.57 \u0026deg;C, Rainfall: 31.13 \u0026plusmn; 10.62 mm, Wind speed: 8.93 \u0026plusmn; 0.44 m/s).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study utilized two types of traps: the fully automatic high-efficiency CO₂ mosquito trap (Model: WJ-C, Shenzhen Longrui Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) (Fig. 1 A) and the ultraviolet light mosquito trap (Model: Gongfuxiaoshuai, Wuhan Jixing Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China) (Fig. 1 B). The ultraviolet light trap operates at a wavelength of 370 nm and is designated as a mosquito monitoring trap by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReagents\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following reagents were utilized in this study: anisaldehyde (Rhawn, R003195, 500 mL, 99%, CAS: 123-11-5, Shanghai Xiyu Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), 1-octen-3-ol (Rhawn, R001969, 250 mL, 98%, CAS: 3391-86-4, Shanghai Xiyu Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), CO₂ (purity\u0026nbsp;\u0026ge;\u0026nbsp;99.99%, Shanghai Puli Gas Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (Product number: V33121, vinyl acetate content: 33%, particle size: 2-3 mm, Asia Polymer Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe preparation of the attractant involved the extraction of 1 mL of undiluted anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol solutions, which were then distributed evenly on filter paper with a diameter of 15 cm. These filter papers were then suspended in the center of a 17 L vacuum desiccator, where they were left to naturally evaporate for a period of 2 h. Once this process was complete, the filter papers were set aside for future use.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe preparation of the sustained-release attractant involved the amalgamation of anisaldehyde and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin in a weight ratio of 1:2. This mixture was then placed in a water bath at 65\u0026deg;C and stirred for a duration of 2 h. It was observed that anisaldehydes were fully absorbed by the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. Following a natural evaporation period of 2 h, anisaldehyde-ethylene-vinyl acetate sustained-release agent (AEVASRA) granules were formulated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperimental methods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deployment of mosquito trapping instruments was conducted from June to September 2024 in habitats conducive to the survival and reproduction of mosquitoes. The CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e mosquito trap utilized the attraction of mosquitoes to carbon dioxide, while the ultraviolet light mosquito trap employed the attraction of ultraviolet light. The trapping was conducted continuously from one hour after sunset to one hour after sunrise the following day. The traps were positioned in secluded, wind-sheltered locations that offered a broad ground surface and were situated away from artificial light sources. The distance between the CO₂ mosquito trap and the ultraviolet light mosquito trap was more than 50 m, and the height of the mosquito traps was 1.5 m above the ground. The traps were set up in the evening and collected the following morning. The total number of insects and mosquitoes captured by each trap was recorded at three-day intervals. The experiment was repeated three times, with a minimum interval of one week between experiments of the same batch, in order to minimize variations in insect density caused by seasonal fluctuations in mosquito populations. It is also notable that the CO₂ flow rate was controlled at 0.3 L/min.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMosquito trapping with attractants: In a single-factor experiment, the carrier traps of the anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol attractants were of the same type as the ultraviolet light mosquito trap. The ultraviolet light was deactivated, and only the fan was activated during the experiment. The attractants were placed in the aforementioned mosquito trapping devices. In the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and ultraviolet light mosquito traps were utilized, along with other experimental operations and conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experiment involved the use of sustained-release attractants, with varying dosages of the AEVASRA (1 g, 5 g and 10 g) being utilized in the ultraviolet light mosquito trap. The outdoor trapping experiments were conducted after the AEVASRA had been stored under natural conditions for 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 days. The experimental methods employed were consistent with those described in the literature on mosquito trapping with attractants. Each dosage of the sustained-release attractant was replicated three times, along with other experimental operations and conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data were organized using Excel (Version 2019), and subsequently analyzed by Tukey\u0026apos;s methods using SPSS (Version 13.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Figure production was conducted using OriginPro software (Version 2024b, OriginLab Co., USA).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMosquito attracting effects under different attracting agent treatments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs shown in Fig. 2, the mosquito-attracting effects exhibited significant differences across the various treatments. In the single-factor mosquito trapping experiment, CO\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003edemonstrated the most pronounced mosquito-attracting effect, with an average attraction of 58.1 mosquitoes per trap. The mosquito-attracting effect of ultraviolet light was secondary, attracting an average of 42.5 mosquitoes per trap. The mosquito-attracting effects of anisaldehyde and 1-octen-3-ol were comparatively negligible, with an average attraction of 12.2 mosquitoes per trap and 5.0 mosquitoes per trap, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the most effective treatment was the combination of ultraviolet light and CO₂, which attracted an average of 182.1 mosquitoes per trap. The synergistic effects of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde were observed to be the second most effective, with an average attraction of 74.9 mosquitoes per trap, nevertheless, it was more effective than the CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e treatment. However, when anisaldehyde or 1-octen-3-ol was added to the ultraviolet light and CO₂, the synergistic effects of attractiveness were diminished, with an average of 27.2 mosquitoes per trap and 51.4 mosquitoes per trap, respectively. This decline in attraction was more pronounced when compared to the synergistic effects of CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and ultraviolet light, with an average reduction of 85.1% and 71.8%, respectively. These results indicate that the synergistic effects of ultraviolet light with CO₂ and ultraviolet light with anisaldehyde are the most effective for attracting mosquitoes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBroad-spectrum insect-attracting and mosquito-specific attracting properties under different attracting agent treatments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs shown in Fig. 3 A, the broad-spectrum insect-attracting properties (BSIAP) were significant differences across various treatments. In the single-factor insect trapping experiment, the highest BSIAP was observed in the ultraviolet light treatment, which attracted an average of 245.8 insects per trap. In the multi-factor synergistic mosquito trapping experiment, the synergistic effects of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde were the best BSIAP, with an average of 334.5 insects per trap. It is notable that the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light and anisaldehyde on insect attraction increased by 26.5% and 87.2%, compared to the attraction generated by each factor acting alone. The BSIAP, which was the result of the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light and CO₂, attracted an average of 238.7 insects per trap (Fig. 3 A).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mosquito-specific attracting properties (MSAP) were calculated by the average number of mosquitoes trapped relative to the average total number of insects trapped. As shown in Fig. 3 B, MSAP were found to be significant differences across various treatments. The highest MSAP values were observed for 1-octen-3-ol, CO₂, and the synergistic effect of ultraviolet light with CO₂, which yielded values of 71.4%, 75.2%, and 76.3%, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSynergy-fold of composite mosquito attraction by different attracting agents\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs shown in Fig. 4 A, the synergy-fold of ultraviolet light in relation to the chemical attractants anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂ were 1.48, 0.95, and 2.92. Correspondingly, Fig. 4 B demonstrates that the synergy-fold of the chemical attractants anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂ relation to ultraviolet light were 2.66, 0.56, and 2.40, respectively. These results indicate that the combined application of physical and chemical attracting agents can contribute to synergistic efficiency.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMosquito attracting effects of the AEVASRA\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs demonstrated in Figure 5 A, the mosquito-attracting effects of the AEVERA exhibited significant variations at three dosages. At a dosage of 5 g, the average total number of trapped mosquitoes per trap was recorded as 206.6. No significant differences were observed in the average number of mosquitoes attracted by doses of 1 g, 5 g, and 10 g on the 10th, 20th, and 60th days for the AEVASRA. Subsequent to 40 days of utilization, the mean number of mosquitoes attracted by the 1 g, 5 g, and 10 g doses were 46.7, 82.3, and 78.3 per trap, respectively. Subsequent to 80 days of utilization, the mean number of mosquitoes attracted by the 1 g dose (12.3 mosquitoes per trap) was significantly lower than that of the 5 g (42.0 mosquitoes per trap) and 10 g (45.3 mosquitoes per trap) doses. No significant difference was observed between the 5 g and 10 g doses (Fig. 5 B). These findings suggest that a 5 g dose of the AEVASRA is recommended under natural conditions, with a suggested optimal continuous usage period of 40 days.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the plant-derived attractant anisaldehyde was found to diminish the attracting effect of CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e, suggesting that the simultaneous application of plant and animal-derived odor attractants may reduce their overall attracting efficiency. This outcome is consistent with the findings reported by Nyasembe et al. (2014), which indicated that the addition of plant attractants to CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e decreases the attracting effect on both male mosquitoes and blood-fed female mosquitoes. Notably, the combination of ultraviolet light and carbon dioxide exhibited a decline in attractiveness when anisaldehyde or 1-octen-3-ol was integrated, suggesting that the presence of excessive attractant information may interfere with the behavioural decision-making process of mosquitoes. Alternatively, this decline could be attributed to a potential antagonistic effect between different attractants. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.\u0026nbsp;It is important to note that the absence of gender-specific data on the captured mosquitoes may have influenced the evaluation of the attracting effect to some extent. Given that plant-derived attractants exert differential effects on mosquitoes of varying genders and physiological states, the effectiveness of attractants should be assessed not solely by the total capture quantity or absolute number, but also by considering the gender and physiological state of female mosquitoes (Owino\u0026nbsp;2021). Furthermore, previous research has shown that 1-octen-3-ol exhibits strong attractiveness specifically to \u003cem\u003eAedes albopictus\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Roiz et al. 2016), and has relatively weak attractiveness to \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCulex\u003c/em\u003e mosquitoes (Kline 2007; Majeed et al. 2017). This study conducted field trapping experiments solely in an urban park. Given the relatively homogeneous species composition of urban mosquitoes, with \u003cem\u003eCulex pipiens pallens\u003c/em\u003e being the predominant species, we refrained from performing statistical analyses on the species of mosquitoes captured by the attractants. Future research will investigate the gender and species compositions of mosquitoes attracted by anisaldehyde across various habitats.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the synergistic enhancement factors among various attracting elements were computed, thereby further substantiating the existence of a synergistic interaction between physical factors (ultraviolet light) and chemical factors (anisaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol, and CO₂). It is noteworthy that the enhancement factor of ultraviolet light concerning CO₂ is the highest at 2.92-fold, while the enhancement factor of CO₂ in relation to ultraviolet light is also considerable at 2.40-fold. These findings reinforce the conclusion that the combination of ultraviolet light and CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e constitutes an effective pairing for attracting mosquitoes. And a significant synergistic effect was observed between anisaldehyde and ultraviolet light. The limited diffusion range of volatile chemical substances is a possible explanation for these phenomena. Mosquitoes located further away rely on their phototactic responses to approach the attracting source, with the odorant serving as a critical determinant guiding mosquitoes into traps (Guindo\u0026nbsp;et al.\u0026nbsp;2021). They employ both olfactory and visual cues to locate hosts from long distances. Ultraviolet light enhances the visibility of trapping devices and may stimulate the phototactic behaviour of mosquitoes (Muir\u0026nbsp;et al.\u0026nbsp;1992). Furthermore, the presence of CO₂, which mimics the respiration of hosts, has been shown to attract mosquitoes searching for a blood source (Takken 1991). Plant volatiles, such as anisaldehyde, have been found to draw mosquitoes towards nectar-producing plants, where they acquire the essential energy for their life activities (Takken et al. 1998). These suggests that various attracting factors can interact through distinct mechanisms, thereby increasing their overall attractiveness to mosquitoes. Furthermore, the findings of this study specifically, the ability of ultraviolet light to significantly enhance the field efficacy of chemical attractants have important implications for the design and development of mosquito trapping technologies and equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe volatility and stability of odor attractants are typically limited factors in terms of their long-term effectiveness in field conditions (Adhiambo et al. 2024). However, the incorporation of these attractants into polymer beads has been shown to extend the duration of release and enhance the stability of the attractants, thereby improving the effectiveness of mosquito attraction. The present study explored the mosquito attracting effect and persistence of the AEVASRA. The results demonstrated that a 5 g dosage of the AEVASRA significantly increased the response rate of mosquitoes to the capture device under field conditions, exhibiting excellent mosquito-attracting capabilities. Moreover, the persistence period of the attractant could extend up to 40 days, indicating that the AEVASRA can serve as a long-lasting and stable mosquito attractant, presenting a novel strategy for mosquito attraction and control.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn summary, the combinations of ultraviolet light + CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and ultraviolet light + anisaldehyde were particularly effective in attracting mosquitoes. While 1-octen-3-ol has a narrower BSIAP compared to anisaldehyde, it possesses a superior MSAP, rendering it a more suitable monitor for the density of mosquitoes. Conversely, anisaldehyde demonstrates greater potential as a mosquito-killing agent and exhibits promising application potential. It was hypothesized that the results would provide scientific guidance for the development and application of innovative mosquito-attracting systems in future integrated vector management program.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data and analysis of this study are publicly available and do not require ethical approval.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors declare no competing financial interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eY. H.: Formal analysis, investigation, writing\u0026mdash;original draft, writing\u0026mdash;review and editing; H. L.: Data collation and investigation; B. S.: investigation; H. H.: Conceptualization, writing\u0026mdash;original draft, writing\u0026mdash;review and editing, funding acquisition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by foundation of China (Grant number: A**7).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClinical trial number\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ehttps://www.who.int/zh/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbdullah AA, Altaf-Ul-Amin M, Ono N, Sato T, Sugiura T, Morita AH, Katsuragi T, Muto A, Nishioka T, Kanaya S (2015) Development and mining of a volatile organic compound database. Biomed Res. Int. 139254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/139254\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAchee NL, Grieco JP, Vatandoost H, Seixas G, Pinto J, Ching-Ng L, Martins AJ, Juntarajumnong W, Corbel V, Gouagna C, David JP, Logan JG, Orsborne J, Marois E, Devine GJ, Vontas J (2019) Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 13(1), e0006822. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006822\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdhiambo EF, Gouagna LC, Owino EA, Mutuku F, Getahun MN, Torto B, Tchouassi DP (2024) Polymer Beads Increase Field responses to host attractants in the dengue vector \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti.\u003c/em\u003e J Chem. Ecol. 50(11), 654-662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-024-01489-8\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBernier UR, Kline DL, Allan SA, Barnard DR (2007) Laboratory comparison of \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti \u003c/em\u003eattraction to human odors and to synthetic human odor compounds and blends. J. of the American Mosquito Control Association 23(3): 288-293. https://doi.org/10.2987/8756-971X \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDennett JA, Vessey NY, Parsons RE (2004) A comparison of seven traps used for collection of \u003cem\u003eAedes albopictus\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti\u003c/em\u003e originating from a large tire repository in Harris County (Houston), Texas. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 20(4), 342-349. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGallagher M, Wysocki CJ, Leyden JJ, Spielman AI, Sun X, Preti G (2008) Analyses of volatile organic compounds from human skin. Br. J Dermatol. 159(4), 780-791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08748.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuindo A, Epopa PS, Doumbia S, Millogo AA, Diallo B, Yao FA, Yagoure B, Tripet F, Diabate A, Coulibaly MB (2021) Improved BioGents\u0026reg; Sentinel trap with heat (BGSH) for outdoor collections of \u003cem\u003eAnopheline\u003c/em\u003e species in Burkina Faso and Mali, West Africa. Parasit. Vectors 14(1), 82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04527-y \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHao HL, Sun JC, Dai JQ (2012) Preliminary analysis of several attractants and spatial repellents for the mosquito,\u003cem\u003e Aedes albopictus\u003c/em\u003e using an olfactometer. J Insect Sci. 12, 76. DOI: https://doi: 10.1673/031.012.7601\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHao HL, Sun JC, Dai JQ (2013) Dose-dependent behavioral response of the mosquito\u003cem\u003e Aedes albopictus\u003c/em\u003e to floral odorous compounds. J. Insect Sci. 13, 127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1673/031.013.12701 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKline DL (2007) Semiochemicals, traps/targets and mass trapping technology for mosquito management. J Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 23(2), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.2987/8756-971X \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuir LE, Kay BH, Thorne MJ (1992) Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) vision: response to stimuli from the optical environment. J Med. Entomol. 29(3), 445-450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/29.3.445 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMajeed S, Hill SR, Dekker T, Ignell R (2017) Detection and perception of generic host volatiles by mosquitoes: responses to CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e constrains host-seeking behaviour. R. Soc. Open Sci. 4: 170189, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170189\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNyasembe VO, Tchouassi DP, Kirwa HK, Foster WA, Teal PE, Borgemeister C, Torto B (2014) Development and assessment of plant-based synthetic odor baits for surveillance and control of malaria vectors. PloS one 9(2), e89818. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089818 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOwino EA (2021) Human and plant volatiles; lures for mosquito, vectors of dengue virus and malaria. J Vector Borne Dis. 58(1), 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-9062.318313\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoiz D, Duperier S, Roussel M, Bouss\u0026egrave;s P, Fontenille D, Simard F, Paupy C (2016) Trapping the tiger: Efficacy of the novel BG-sentinel 2 with several attractants and carbon dioxide for collecting \u003cem\u003eAedes albopictus\u003c/em\u003e (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southern France. J Med. Entomol. 53(2), 460-465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjv184 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTakken W (1991) The role of olfaction in host-seeking of mosquitoes: a review. Int. J Trop. Insect Sci. 12, 287-295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400020816 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTakken W, Klowden MJ, Chambers GM (1998) Effect of body size on host seeking and blood meal utilization in \u003cem\u003eAnopheles gambiae \u003c/em\u003esensu stricto (Diptera: Culicidae): the disadvantage of being small. J Med. Entomol. 35(5), 639-645. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/35.5.639\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTchouassi DP, Jacob JW, Ogola EO, Sang R, Torto B (2019) Aedes vector-host olfactory interactions in sylvatic and domestic dengue transmission environments. Proc. Biol. Sci. 286(1914), 20192136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2136 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Mosquitoes, Attractants, Anisaldehyde, Traps","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7531010/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7531010/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"This study investigates the mosquito-attracting effects of anisaldehyde in conjunction with other three widely recognized mosquito attractants in urban parks. The results indicate that the combinations of ultraviolet light + CO2 and ultraviolet light + anisaldehyde were particularly effective in attracting mosquitoes, with the number of mosquitoes attracted per trap reaching 182.1 and 74.9, respectively. While the substantial broad-spectrum for 1-octen-3-ol was lower than that of anisaldehyde, it exhibited superior mosquito-specific attraction, rendering it suitable for monitoring mosquito density. Conversely, anisaldehyde is more optimal as a mosquito-killing attractant. The 5 g dosage of the anisaldehyde-ethylene vinyl acetate sustained-release agent (AEVASRA) significantly enhanced the response of mosquitoes to the trapping device under outdoor conditions, with an effective duration of 40 days. Consequently, it may serve as a long-term and stable mosquito attractant. The evaluation of the synergistic effects of multiple attraction agents has the potential to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient development of mosquito trapping devices, and for the prevention and control of mosquitoes.","manuscriptTitle":"Evaluating the synergistic effects of anisaldehyde and other three widely recognized mosquito-attracting agents in urban parks","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-20 10:21:32","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7531010/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-01-17T23:38:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-17T17:34:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-17T09:29:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"181524294850921643171169988027202239402","date":"2026-01-17T02:34:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T18:21:49+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"23101836801790438840593388724609577951","date":"2026-01-16T12:15:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"212445908055289584970645782099017174833","date":"2026-01-16T11:54:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T11:34:32+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-09-15T08:08:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-09-15T08:07:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","date":"2025-09-04T01:37:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"d5652ed6-f0ad-473a-97d7-5d0cb96c9cc0","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-27T16:08:51+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7531010","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01850-2","journal":{"identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isVorOnly":false,"title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science"},"publishedOn":"2026-04-24 15:57:09","publishedOnDateReadable":"April 24th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-20 10:21:32","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s42690-026-01850-2","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01850-2","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7531010","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7531010","identity":"rs-7531010","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}