Comparison of climatic factors on mosquito abundance at US Army Garrison Humphreys, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Introduction A number of studies have been conducted on the relationship between the distribution of mosquito abundance and meteorological variables. However, few studies have specifically provided specific ranges of temperatures for estimating the maximum abundance of mosquitoes as an empirical basis for climatic dynamics for estimating mosquito-borne infectious disease risks. Methods Adult mosquitoes were collected for three consecutive nights/week using Mosquito Magnet® Independence® model traps during 2018 and 2019 at US Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). An estimate of daily mean temperatures (provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration) were distributed at the maximum abundance for selected species of mosquitoes using daily mosquito collection data after controlling for mosquito ecological cycles and environmental factors. Results Using the Monte-Carlo simulation, the overall mosquito population abundance peaked at 22.7˚C (2.5 th-97.5 th : 21.7˚C-23.8˚C). Aedes albopictus, vector of Zika, chikungunya, dengue fever and other viruses, abundance peaked at 24.6˚C (2.5 th-97.5 th , 22.3˚C-25.6˚C), while Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vectors, e.g., Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex pipiens, peaked at 24.3˚C (2.5 th-97.5 th : 21.9˚C-26.3˚C) and 22.6˚C (2.5 th-97.5 th : 21.9˚C-25.2˚C), respectively. Members of the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group, some of which are vivax malaria vectors in the ROK, abundance peaked at 22.4˚C (2.5 th-97.5 th : 21.5˚C-23.8˚C). Conclusion The empirical mean temperature ranges for maximum abundance were determined for each mosquito species collected at USAG Humphreys. These data contributed to the

National Monitoring of Mosquito Populations and Molecular Analysis of Flavivirus in the Republic of Korea in 2020

“…Adult mosquito distribution depends on the seasonal climate and ecological factors affecting larval growth and development. In the Republic of Korea, the abundance of mosquitoes increases from May to late August or early September, and decreases from October onwards when mean temperatures reduce [8]. In the present study, the mosquito populations were prevalent between the first week of June and the first week of October.…”

“…tritaeniorhynchus had the highest prevalence in the 36th week (first week of September) of 2020; it also had the highest prevalence in the 36th week (first week of September) of 2019 and the 37th week (second week of September) of 2020 [16]. This difference could be explained by species-specific temperature requirements for eclosion and development from the larval to the adult stage [8]. Hence, it is important to identify the temperature ranges at which each mosquito species shows maximum abundance.…”

“…tritaeniorhynchus, and Ae. albopictus were 22.6 • C, 24.3 • C, and 24.6 • C, respectively [8]. Depending on the mosquito species and stage of development, the upper and lower atmospheric temperature limits are in the ranges of 30-35 • C and 5-10 • C, respectively [8].…”

“…Surveillance systems for mosquito-borne diseases-such as those caused by arboviruses, Plasmodium spp., and flaviviruses-have been established, and are actively functional. These monitoring systems assess the relative abundance of mosquitoes as a function of time-series data, and guide public health officials in the application of disease risk mitigation strategies in civilian populations [8]. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has established local centers to monitor pathogen vector population density related to climate change [9].…”

The insupportable validity of mosquito subspecies (Diptera: Culicidae) and their exclusion from culicid classification

“…The siphon of the lineatopennis larva illustrated by Lee (1999) and the siphon of aureus illustrated by Shestakov (1980) are both short and mesally expanded. Also, both nominal taxa exhibit peak activity in August and September (Shestakov 1980;Hwang et al 2020). Since both are found in temperate climates in the same geographic region, we suspect that they are conspecific and the correct name for the form found in Korea is probably aureus, not lineatopennis.…”