Introduction and objectives Mosquito sampling in Europe is primarily implemented outdoors, thus providing limited knowledge on the exploitation of indoor habitats, which is assumed to be strongly different in the two main arbovirus vectors Culex pipiens (known as endophagic) and Aedes albopictus (known as exophagic in its native range). Here, we analysed indoor and outdoor mosquito photographic records sent by citizen scientists involved in Mosquito Alert (MA) project in Italy, based on the assumption that mosquito photos were taken during the host-seeking activity. Materials and methods Georeferenced records of mosquitoes from Italy (identified by MA experts) were analysed in relation to information provided by the citizens on whether the photos were taken indoors or outdoors. The dynamics of Ae. albopictus relative frequencies were compared to those of Culex spp. (herein considered as Cx. pipiens, due to the negligible presence of other species) by binomial regression models as a function of indoor/outdoor location. Results, Discussion and Conclusion From October 2020 (when MA was launched in Italy) to the end of 2023, a total of 1,791 and 5,076 mosquito photos were recorded outdoors and indoors, respectively; 88% of outdoor records and 51% of indoor records were of Ae. albopictus. Models show that the probability of receiving Ae. albopictus records outdoors is always higher than the probability of receiving Cx. pipiens records, consistently with known host-seeking behaviours of the species. Notably, the trend is the same when considering indoor records received from June to October, while in colder months Cx. pipiens records prevail. While the seasonal difference is in line with the species known seasonality, Ae. albopictus indoor records suggest an unexpectedly high indoor host-seeking behaviour. The implications of these results and the potential of citizen science in enhancing mosquito monitoring and public health preparedness will be discussed.
Toc-toc: who is inside? Uncovering indoor host-seeking mosquito dynamics by Citizen Science / Longo, Eleonora; Virgillito, Chiara; Maria De Marco, Carlo; Micocci, Martina; Serini, Paola; Gentile, Chiara; Rosà, Roberto; Manica, Mattia; Severini, Francesco; Montarsi, Fabrizio; Filipponi, Federico; Vittoria Zucchelli, Maria; Bartumeus, Frederic; Eritja, Roger; Palmer, John; Caputo, Beniamino; della Torre, Alessandra. - (2024). (Intervento presentato al convegno 23rd European Society for Vector Ecology Conference tenutosi a Montpellier nel 14-17/10/2024).
Toc-toc: who is inside? Uncovering indoor host-seeking mosquito dynamics by Citizen Science
Eleonora Longo;Roberto Rosà;
2024-01-01
Abstract
Introduction and objectives Mosquito sampling in Europe is primarily implemented outdoors, thus providing limited knowledge on the exploitation of indoor habitats, which is assumed to be strongly different in the two main arbovirus vectors Culex pipiens (known as endophagic) and Aedes albopictus (known as exophagic in its native range). Here, we analysed indoor and outdoor mosquito photographic records sent by citizen scientists involved in Mosquito Alert (MA) project in Italy, based on the assumption that mosquito photos were taken during the host-seeking activity. Materials and methods Georeferenced records of mosquitoes from Italy (identified by MA experts) were analysed in relation to information provided by the citizens on whether the photos were taken indoors or outdoors. The dynamics of Ae. albopictus relative frequencies were compared to those of Culex spp. (herein considered as Cx. pipiens, due to the negligible presence of other species) by binomial regression models as a function of indoor/outdoor location. Results, Discussion and Conclusion From October 2020 (when MA was launched in Italy) to the end of 2023, a total of 1,791 and 5,076 mosquito photos were recorded outdoors and indoors, respectively; 88% of outdoor records and 51% of indoor records were of Ae. albopictus. Models show that the probability of receiving Ae. albopictus records outdoors is always higher than the probability of receiving Cx. pipiens records, consistently with known host-seeking behaviours of the species. Notably, the trend is the same when considering indoor records received from June to October, while in colder months Cx. pipiens records prevail. While the seasonal difference is in line with the species known seasonality, Ae. albopictus indoor records suggest an unexpectedly high indoor host-seeking behaviour. The implications of these results and the potential of citizen science in enhancing mosquito monitoring and public health preparedness will be discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione
