Climatic and microenvironmental variables associated with the abundance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a subtropical region of Argentina

ALONSO, ANA C.; MICIELI, MARÍA V.; GALINDO LILIANA; GIMÉNEZ ORLANDO J.; AIARA B JENSEN JUNCO; STEIN MARINA

HYDROBIOLOGIA

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2023

0018-8158

The main dengue vectors in tropical and subtropical areas of the world are Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). In Argentina, Ae. aegypti has presence in subtropical and temperate regions, whereas Ae. albopictus, has been detected in some localities of the subtropical region, in sympatry with Ae. aegypti. This study aimed to analyze their spatial and temporal distribution in Eldorado, Misiones, Argentina, and the influence of climatic variables and habitat features on the abundances of both species. Larvae/pupae were monthly collected from May 2016 to April 2018, in different habitats within the urban matrix, collecting 20,057 larvae/pupae of Ae. aegypti and 3,150 of Ae. albopictus. Unlike Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus presented a more restricted temporal distribution, decreasing in early autumn. The main climatic variable determining larval abundances of both species was the minimum temperature with a time lag of 8 weeks. Larvae/pupa of both species were mostly found in the household, specially in tires and plastic and glass containers. Aedes aegypti selected medium to large-size habitats, while Ae. albopictus selected small containers. Organic matter and water color affected Ae. albopictus abundances. The variables analyzed could explain the distribution of Ae. albopictus, currently restricted to two provinces in northeastern Argentina.