The use of insect markers, such as fluorescent powders, is a useful tool for studying ecological and epidemiological questions. Evaluating their effect on vectors of human disease agents, such as the invasive mosquito vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), is crucial for their practical and reliable use, especially in parameters linked to the risk of disease transmission such as adult survival, dispersal, and host-seeking. Seven fluorescent powders (Hercules Radiant, DayGlo (DG), Risk Reactor (RR), and Angstrom Technologies), applied externally on cohorts of Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes, were tested to determine their impact on survival and recapture by baited mosquito traps, and their detectability after being exposed to controlled laboratory and semifield environments. There were no significant differences in survival among marked and unmarked females across all powders. Marked females were significantly less likely to be captured in baited traps relative to unmarked females, except for one of the DG powders. All females remained visibly marked on five parts of their body for 30 d (under both environments), except for one of the RR powders. The tested powders and application method are suitable for tracking mosquitoes throughout most of their lives under different environments, without significantly affecting their survival, but with potential impact on recapture by baited traps, possibly due to effects on senses or other physiological traits.
Introducción. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) es un vector de arbovirus ampliamente distribuido. En Costa Rica la expansión geográfica de Ae. albopictus se ha incrementado en la última década, por lo que es importante actualizar el conocimiento sobre su distribución. Objetivo. Informar sobre el hallazgo de Aedes albopictus en nuevas localidades de Costa Rica.Materiales y Métodos. Se colectaron formas inmaduras de mosquitos con morfología sugestiva de Ae. albopictus en localidades de las provincias de Puntarenas (isla de Chira y Golfito), Guanacaste (Liberia), Alajuela (Upala), San José (Acosta) y Heredia (Barva y Sarapiquí). Los especímenes fueron fijados en etanol al 70%, aclarados en lactofenol e identificados con el uso de claves dicotómicas.Resultados. Las especies identificadas fueron Ae. albopictus, Aedes aegypti, Haemagogus equinus y Haemagogus iridocolor-H. lucifer; y procedieron de los siguientes depósitos: recipiente plástico, tanque de agua, lona plástica, balde, llanta, canoa, piscina, maceta, bota de hule y bambú.Conclusiones. Este es el primer reporte científico de Ae. albopictus en Liberia (Guanacaste), isla de Chira y Golfito (Puntarenas), Barva (Heredia) y Upala (Alajuela), lo cual evidencia la rápida expansión que ha experimentado esta especie en Costa Rica. Se enfatiza en la necesidad de un diagnóstico microscópico certero, pues las larvas de Ae. albopictus pueden coexistir con otras especies que resultan difíciles de diferenciar, tales como Ae. aegypti y algunas especies de Haemagogus. Considerando que Ae. albopictus es un vector competente para virus dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV) y Zika (ZIKV), se recomienda investigar su papel en la transmisión de virus en estas zonas, así como el desplazamiento y/o coexistencia con especies como Ae. aegypti.
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