Recent Changes in the Local Distribution ofAedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae) in South Florida, USA

Abstract

Disease transmission is directly tied to the spatial distribution of disease vectors. The distribution of Aedes aegypti (L.) in the United States has diminished since the introduction of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the 1980s. However, Ae. aegypti persists in some urban areas, particularly in south Florida. The pattern of habitat segregation of these two species is well documented, but the consistency of this phenomenon over time is unknown. To examine the dynamics of the local distributions of these two species, we studied the spatial pattern of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus over time at a fine landscape scale in Palm Beach County, FL. We compared patterns from 2006-2007 with their distributions in 2013, taking into account abiotic factors of microclimate and land cover. We found evidence for a local shift in Ae. aegypti distribution, but could not attribute this to changes in measured abiotic factors. Alternatively, the interaction between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus that initially resulted Ae. aegypti decline may be being attenuated through natural selection. This study confirms the importance of monitoring the changing ranges of these two important vector species.

Rapid evolution and the genomic consequences of selection against interspecific mating

“…Despite the rapid generation time, and the ability to move among locations via human‐mediated transport, A. aegypti populations have shown marked geographic genetic structure. In addition, Hopperstad and Reiskind () showed evidence of local range expansions (or re‐expansions, as A. aegypti was historically present in these locations) over short distances (3–5 km) in Palm Beach County and Lounibos et al. () presented evidence for stable to slight increases in areas of A. aegypti since the invasion examining sites around Florida south of Orlando.…”

“…The long‐term patterns of these two species are difficult to predict, but the evidence for rapid evolution of character displacement in A. aegypti in response to A. albopictus may suggest a future in which these two species co‐exist at fine and coarse scales and thus increase the risk of disease transmission to human populations. Comparing current to historical distributions of A. aegypti suggests at least a stable to slightly expanding range, both regionally and locally, but without a change in A. albopictus range (Hopperstad & Reiskind, ; Lounibos et al., ). Overall, a better understanding of how rapidly A. aegypti females can overcome strong selection, combined with increases in desiccation potential due to global climate change for A. albopictus (Juliano, Lounibos, & O'Meara, ; Lounibos et al., ; Reiskind & Lounibos, ), suggests a potential for an increase in the population sizes of A. aegypti .…”

“…Thirty-four years ago, the Asian tiger mosquito (A. albopictus) invaded the United States which resulted in a well-documented decline in the resident yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, except for urban areas in south Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Arizona (Hahn et al, 2017;Hawley, Reiter, Copeland, Pumpuni, & Craig, 1987;Hopperstad & Reiskind, 2016;Moore, 1999). The rapid displacement of the resident mosquito was likely due to both the superior competitive ability of A. albopictus as larvae and asymmetric mating interference competition, in which male A. albopictus mate with and sterilize A. aegypti females (satyrization) (Ribeiro & Spielman, 1986).…”

Arbovirus Vectors of Epidemiological Concern in the Americas: A Scoping Review of Entomological Studies on Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya Virus Vectors

“…aegypti and Ae. albopictus [96,97,100]. Seven studies predicted the distribution of arbovirus vectors under conditions of climate change [102–108].…”

How does competition among wild type mosquitoes influence the performance of Aedes aegypti and dissemination of Wolbachia pipientis?

“…Mosquito body size is ultimately a manifestation of larval habitat quality and can produce significant effects on an insect’s fitness and then alter mosquito vectorial capacity [ 12 , 61 , 62 ]. Physiological stress in juvenile stages produces negative effects that may pass into adulthood [ 63 ].…”