Seasonal and Spatial Oviposition Activity ofAedes albopictus(Diptera: Culicidae) in Adriatic Croatia

Abstract

Seasonal and spatial ovipositional activity of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) was investigated in Split, South Croatia. During 2009 and 2010, 35 oviposition traps were used in this research. For studying oviposition behavior, mean egg density and Lloyd's mean crowding were used to define the dispersion of eggs into ovitraps and, together with Taylor's power law, to show aggregation degree. To show monthly distribution of egg density, Kriging interpolation was used. Oviposition activity started in April (week 13) and was completed at the beginning December (week 48). Mean egg density reaches the highest values from June to early September (week 25-35). Slope of regressions (mean crowding on mean density and log variance and log mean density) indicated a clumped distribution of eggs. Sampling sites were divided in four groups based on quartiles of median and maximum of mean density. There was no significant difference in measured abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, and rainfall) and measured mean egg density, total amount of eggs, and percentage of positive ovitraps between investigated years, except in mean egg density in some localities.

Sentinel surveillance of imported dengue via travellers to Europe 2012 to 2014: TropNet data from the DengueTools Research Initiative

“…Mathematical modelling of the likelihood of dengue importation to Europe (taking into account dengue seasonality in the countries from which dengue could be imported, the number of reported dengue cases imported into Europe and the volume of airline travellers arriving from dengue-affected areas internationally) concluded that the risk of dengue importation is greatest in August, September and October [29]. Entomological monitoring in the Mediterranean region indicated that the development period for A. albopictus starts in April and closes in October/November with activity peaks from June/July to September [30,31]. The peak activity of A. albopictus populations in the south of Europe thus coincides with the seasonal peak of imported dengue cases in Europe which increases the risk of autochthonous transmission [29,32].…”

Updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Croatia

“…albopictus was investigated in Split, south Croatia where oviposition activity started in April and was completed at the beginning of December while mean egg density was highest from June to early September. (Žitko and Merdić 2014). By 2012, this species spread to coastal Croatia, including its islands.…”

An overview of mosquitoes and emerging arboviral infections in the Zagreb area, Croatia

“…albopictus has been the most common species in the Croatia coastal area and now is widespread from Istria in the north through Dalmatia and islands to Dubrovnik in the south [17,18]. The first record of Ae.…”

“…albopictus, one of the most important vectors of DENV and CHIKV is well-established in Croatia's coastal territory [17,18] and the Zagreb area.…”