Establishment of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Florida Keys, 2001–2017

Abstract

The presence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was first reported in the Florida Keys in 1993. Despite extensive surveillance, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) only collected specimens occasionally on a few islands, some years finding no evidence of the invasive species. In 2013-2017, FKMCD witnessed a sudden increase in population size and geographic extent of Ae. albopictus. Samples of Ae. albopictus have now been identified on 30 different islands in the Florida Keys. Three islands in particular (Key Largo, Big Pine Key, and Stock Island) have produced multiple positive samples during at least 4 of the last 5 yr, suggesting establishment of the invasive species. FKMCD continues to monitor Ae. albopictus throughout the Keys and make extensive efforts to reduce population abundance and geographic extent of this disease vector.

State‐wide survey ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictus(Diptera: Culicidae) in Florida

“…Additionally, Ae. albopictus has been documented in the Florida Keys, a region where it was previously detected only sporadically (Murray et al 2018). Due to the medical significance of these species and their proximity to humans, it is important for Florida mosquito control programs to regularly survey and document the distribution of Ae.…”

Mosquito Surveillance and Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Conducted by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, Monroe County, Florida, USA

“…ABC traps baited with carbon dioxide have been used in all of the surveillance studies conducted by FKMCD. These collections have resulted in new distribution records or confirmation of old collection records for Aedeomyia squamipennis (Lynch Arribalzaga), Aedes albopictus Skuse, Aedes bahamensis Berlin, Aedes condolescens Dyar and Knab, Aedes pertinax Grabham, Aedes scapularis Rondani, Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann, Anopheles grabhamii (Theobald), Psorophora johnstonii (Grabham), Culex coronator Dyar and Knab, Culex declarator Dyar and Knab, Culex peccator Dyar and Knab, Culex tarsalis Coquillett, and Culiseta inornata (Williston) [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…Knowledge of blood meal preferences in these areas led to a better understanding of the ecological factors influencing dengue transmission in the Keys [ 79 ]. Murray et al [ 36 ] also reported the use of BG Sentinel traps in collections of the invasive mosquito, A. albopictus , which prior to 1993 had not been seen in the Florida Keys.…”

“…Oviposition traps were used in conjunction with BG Sentinel traps to measure efficacy of wide-area liquid larviciding for control of A. aegypti in Key West, FL [ 73 ]. The FKMCD also used oviposition traps to monitor and verify the establishment of A. albopictus in the Florida Keys [ 36 ] and to obtain eggs for bioassays during an investigation of mechanisms of resistance to pesticides by A. aegypti [ 99 ].…”

Ground Applications of Vectobac® WDG with A1 Super-Duty Mist Sprayer® and Micronair® AU5000 Atomizer for Suppression ofAedes aegyptiPopulations in the Florida Keys

“…Aedes aegypti (L.) is the most important mosquitoborne disease vector in south Florida with the capacity to transmit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses (Grubaugh et al 2017, Leta et al 2018, Murray et al 2018, Wilke et al 2019. Aedes aegypti larvae inhabit a variety of domestic containers, and adult females feed predominantly on humans (Hribar and Whiteside 2010;Hribar et al 2001Hribar et al , 2004Pruszynski et al 2020).…”