Cemeteries in Miami-Dade County, Florida are important areas to be targeted in mosquito management and control efforts

Abstract

Definable habitats at the neighborhood level provide a wide range of favorable habitats with optimal conditions and environmental resources for mosquito survival. Problematic habitats for controlling mosquitoes in urban environments such as tire shops, bromeliad patches, and construction sites must be taken into consideration in the development of effective mosquito management and control in urban areas. Cemeteries are often located in highly urbanized areas serving as a haven for populations of vector mosquito species due to the availability of natural resources present in most cemeteries. Even though Miami-Dade County, Florida was the most affected area in the United States during the Zika virus outbreak in 2016 and is currently under a mosquito-borne illness alert after 14 confirmed locally transmitted dengue cases, the role of cemeteries in the proliferation of vector mosquitoes is unknown. Therefore, our objective was to use a cross-sectional experimental design to survey twelve cemeteries across Miami-Dade County to assess if vector mosquitoes in Miami can be found in these areas. Our results are indicating that vector mosquitoes are able to successfully exploit the resources available in the cemeteries. Culex quinquefasciatus was the most abundant species but it was neither as frequent nor present in its immature form as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This study revealed that vector mosquitoes, such as Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus are successfully exploiting the resources available in these areas being able to thrive and reach high numbers. Mosquito control strategies should consider both long-term strategies, based on changing human behavior to reduce the availability of aquatic habitats for vector mosquitoes; as well as short-term strategies such as drilling holes or adding larvicide to the flower vases. Simple practices would greatly help improve the effectiveness of mosquito management and control in these problematic urban habitats.

Urbanization favors the proliferation of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida

“…erraticus , the bridge vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the southern United States, were almost exclusively found in the remote areas and were only collected in high numbers in the urban area U8, a new urban development bordering natural areas. Aedes albopictus is not commonly found in urban areas in Miami-Dade County 9 , 22 , and is relegated to restricted and well-defined areas such as cemeteries 70 . Therefore, it was not unexpected that approximately 90% of Ae.…”

“…Urban features such as tire shops or underground subway stations may allow populations of vector mosquito species to survive scorching and freezing temperatures that normally would kill them 72 , 73 . Furthermore, these highly productive urban environments that are responsible for the proliferation of vector mosquitoes are often located in populous areas, increasing, even more, the contact between humans and mosquito vectors 28 , 70 .…”

Proliferation of Aedes aegypti in urban environments mediated by the availability of key aquatic habitats

“…This system provides valuable insight into the population dynamics of vector mosquitoes in Miami 48 . Moreover, many studies have been conducted in areas considered problematic for controlling vector mosquitoes in Miami such as construction sites 79 , tire shops 80 , ornamental bromeliad patches 55 , cemeteries 81 , and urban farms 66 . Together, these studies have provided key evidence of vector mosquito distribution in Miami.…”

Vector control Aedes sp. during pandemic COVID-19

“…HRI is the result of dividing the number of DC in the cemetery by the average larva-positive DC. Both indices are categorized into three categories: high, medium, and low based on tertile distribution [25], [26]…”