Temporal modulation of male sensitivity to female acoustic signals in Aedes aegypti

Mate recognition in mosquitoes relies strongly on acoustic cues generated by wingbeat sounds. In Aedes aegypti, males detect the characteristic flight sounds of females during mate localization and courtship. However, whether male sensitivity to female acoustic signals changes throughout the day remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether male behavioural response to female wingbeat sound is modulated by time of day. Responses were evaluated in a uniport behavioral assay across three photophase time windows (ZT0–2, ZT4–6, and ZT9–11) . Males were exposed to playback of female wingbeat sound, male wingbeat sound, or no sound as a control. Males showed a specific behavioral response to female sound, whereas male sound and silence elicited little or no response. Contrary to our initial prediction, males consistently responded to female sound at all three time windows. Moreover, neither response latency nor the number of mating attempts differed across the photophase. These results indicate that Ae. aegypti males discriminate female from male acoustic cues and sustain responsiveness throughout the light period. rather than being restricted to a specific daily window. Our findings provide new insight into the temporal organization of sensory mechanisms underlying mate recognition in Ae. aegypti and contribute to understanding the behavioral processes that regulate reproductive encounters in this mosquito.